Pakistan’s star batsman and skipper, Babar Azam, added another feather to his cap as he became only the second cricketer to score ten centuries in T20 cricket. The historic moment came during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 match between Colombo Strikers, led by Babar, and Galle Titans on Monday. Babar’s remarkable 104 off just 59 balls guided Colombo Strikers to a sensational seven-wicket victory, successfully chasing down the challenging target of 189 runs in 19.5 overs.
The 27-year-old Babar has been a force to reckon with in the shortest format of the game and has earned the reputation of being one of the finest T20 batsmen in the world. His journey to the elite club of T20 century scorers includes three centuries at the international level, two in the Vitality Blast, and two in the National T20 Cup, representing Somerset and Central Punjab, respectively. Additionally, he has one century each in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for Peshawar Zalmi and in a tour match against Leicestershire.
With this latest ton, Babar Azam now stands as the fourth player to achieve the milestone since the inception of the Lanka Premier League in 2018. However, the “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle holds the record for the most T20 centuries, with a staggering 22 centuries in 463 matches.
In the nail-biting clash against Galle Titans, Babar partnered with Pathum Nissanka to give Colombo Strikers a solid start, with an impressive opening stand of 111/1 in 12.3 overs. While Nissanka fell after scoring a valuable 54 off 40 balls, Babar carried his bat until the last over, ensuring his team’s emphatic victory.
Babar’s participation in the Lanka Premier League is seen as an excellent opportunity for him to fine-tune his skills ahead of the upcoming major tournaments, including the Asia Cup and ICC World Cup. Expressing his eagerness to excel in different conditions, Babar stated, “Whenever you play different leagues, in different conditions, you end up learning a lot. I will try to focus, adapt to the conditions, and face good spinners to prepare for these upcoming big tournaments.”
As cricket fans worldwide celebrate Babar Azam’s incredible achievement, his consistent performance and match-winning ability continue to solidify his position as one of the finest cricketers of the modern era.
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