Coming from a not very special Test series against South Africa. Pakistani skipper Babar Azam saw the T20Is start off on a low too. The skipper of the home team recorded his second duck at the Gaddafi Stadium.
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The No 2 batsman on the T20 charts would’ve wanted to capitalize on the field restrictions. However, on the quite opposite of what the Pakistani fans might have thought, the skipper got run out on the very second ball of the innings.
https://youtu.be/X2iHP1aLu1o
If Bad Luck had a face ?
Babar azam at his home ground?#PAKvSA #SAvPAK #Cricket pic.twitter.com/CuwOel96ix— Noman Views (@Noman2294) February 11, 2021
It was South African spinner Fortuin who made the dismissal possible. Coming from over the wicket Fortuin bowled a little short. Azam just nudged it towards the midwicket region hoping to sneak an easy single. But the bowler ran as fast as he could, slid, and threw the ball in ni time with his wrong hand (right) to hit the bullseye. The commentators while noticing the brilliant effort and a little bit of laziness by Azam also added that maybe playing on the back foot took some seconds that cost him his wicket.
Twitter reacted really quick to Azam’s run out.
“This is the 13th time Babar Azam has been run out in his T20 career (international, domestic and franchise combined),” a user tweeted.
Babar azam run out!
Not the start pakistan wanted as the skipper has been run out for duck..! ?#PAKvSA #babarAzam pic.twitter.com/SETOG8Dpth— Naveed Shafi (@NaveedShafi15) February 11, 2021
“Contrast Haidar ali just came in Smash two sixes two same bowler Babar Got run out. Babar can’t play Left arm spin. A weakness to his great batting.. Shame that after Injury against NZ Babar lost that touch,” another one said.
“2 duck in the same venue I guess not the start Pak wanted that’s what t20 is all about guys u know what will happen hoping for very good game.”
However, Azam’s opening partner Mohammad Rizwan carried his Test form into the green colors only to score a mind-blowing century. Scoring 104 runs in 64 balls, Rizwan brought up his ton in the last over. He took on Phehlukwayo for a six after getting down on one leg and shuffling across, slamming the widish ball over cow corner. He hit six fours and seven maximums in his stay.
Pakistan ended their innings on 169 in 20 overs:
The next best after Rizwan was Haider Ali’s 21. This clearly indicates that it was the opener who single-handedly took on the Proteas’ attack. Pakistan ended with 169 runs on the board.
Post first innings South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi spoke about the dew factor and how it will make life easier for the batsman in the second innings. According to him, the game is slightly tilted towards the visitors.
“It’s a good total. But the dew is starting to set in now, I am confident that we will chase this score. We have had a few practice sessions here, it’s going to be slightly harder for the bowlers in the second innings. After my first two overs, the ball started skidding more. Whatever is given to us, we will be able to chase it down. Just see the ball and hit the ball – that’s all our batters need to do,” he said.
