Watch: Pakistan’s finest Babar Azam was elegance personified in the National T20 cup today, where he hit his sixth T20 ton.

Babar’s 63-ball 105 helped his team Central Punjab to a total of 200 against Northern (Pakistan) in the National T20 cup. The Pakistan skipper, who looks set on breaking many records in the future, hit his sixth century in the format, which is the most-ever for any player from Pakistan. Only six players from anywhere have made more.

These runs came against a bowling line-up featuring six international players — Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Muhammad Musa. Four of these bowlers are a part of Pakistan’s squad for the T20 World Cup.

Babar took his time to get in against the Northern spinners but unleashed his full fury once truly set on a good batting wicket. His first boundary came in the very first over, when Babar positioned himself well against Nawaz and placed him through the covers with impeccable precision. His next boundary saw the Karachi Kings star brutally dismiss an easy offering by Imad Wasim.

After his partner Ahmed Shehzad upped the ante in the fourth over, Babar too showed his intent by coming down the wicket to hit Imad Wasim for a boundary down the ground.

The fall of Shehzad plugged Central Punjab’s scoring rate a bit but Babar broke the stalemate by cleverly sweeping a Nawaz delivery down the leg-side. Perhaps, one of his most ‘Babar’ strokes of the day was the deft touch off a short Muhammad Musa delivery, running the ball past the keeper and beating third man for a four. This shot also brought up his fifty.

But it wasn’t all touch-and-skill for Babar; he also used brute force on occasion, such as when he thrashed Shadab Khan for a massive six over long-on. He used the same strategy against Muhammad Musa in the 17th over, placing a short delivery over deep mid-wicket for a six.

He hit another six over long-on against Musa and finished the 17th over on 90.

He reached 94 with a drive over mid-off against Rauf in the next over. 98 was achieved with a streaky boundary; he had intended to drive the ball, however, it took a thick edge and went to the third man boundary.

Haris Rauf’s next delivery was full and on leg-stump. Babar didn’t let this opportunity to go to waste and placed it flawlessly down the leg-side for a four. The captain’s knock helped CP to a competitive total, and confirmed him once again as one of the best batters in the world at this moment.

You can watch Babar Azam’s majestic T20 hundred here

 

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