Follow us on TelegramPakistan skipper Babar Azam showed a great amount of determination as the one-man army of his side on the second day of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. While Sri Lanka were cleaning up the Pakistani tail, Babar held on firmly from the other end and counter-attacked the bowlers to ensure that the visitors did not fall short of their first innings deficit despite being so close.
Even tail-ender Naseem Shah gave good support to his captain as he did not allow the Sri Lankan bowlers to breach his defence and just kept on blocking and leaving the deliveries without even trying to get off the mark when on strike. The support proved to be instrumental in Babar completing his well-deserved 7th Test century and keeping Pakistan’s first innings hopes alive.
Babar Azam scores a fighting century
When Hasan Ali got out in the 60th over, Pakistan’s scorecard read 148/9 and they were still trailing by 74 runs with only Naseem Shah left. It was a daunting task for Babar Azam to take care of things. Nonetheless, the batting superstar accepted the challenge and tackled the Lankan bowlers with fearless intent.
He was a bit defensive initially but didn’t waste any scoring opportunities and kept the scoreboard ticket from thereon, once he reached 80. While he was on 90, Azam played an inside-out shot off Prabath Jayasuriya which fetched him four valuable runs. It was a risky shot that was well rewarded in the end.
The Pakistan captain took a single and remained unbeaten on 95 while heading into the tea break. It was indeed an eventful day for Babar Azam who shattered yet another unique record earlier in the day. He surpassed the batting megastar Virat Kohli to become the fastest Asian batter to score 10000 international runs. While it took Kohli 232 innings to achieve this feat, Babar got it done in just 228.
When play resumed post tea, an attacking field was placed for Babar Azam with spinner Maheesh Theekshana bowling. However, Azam was street smart on this occasion as he first smashed Theekshana between long on and deep mid-wicket for four runs before taking a single of the very next delivery to complete his century.
Here’s how Twitterati reacted to Babar Azam’s splendid ton:
Naseem Shah deserves immense adulation and credit for his commitment in assisting Babar to that hundred.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 17, 2022
Master craftsman; Babar Azam superb once again👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 17, 2022
Babar Azam is the only player in the world who is delivering top performances consistently in all three formats. Truly the best at the moment 👏 @babarazam258 #CricketTwitter
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) July 17, 2022
SENSATIONAL EFFORT 💥@babarazam258 scores a special seventh Test 💯#SLvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/oWHyasNwuM
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 17, 2022
Hundred for Babar Azam, one of the finest knock ever, Pakistan was 85 for 7 and then captain smashed a brilliant hundred. pic.twitter.com/IP3s7OLeOH
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
From 85/7 to 200+, a sensational century from Babar Azam.
A knock to remember for him.
📸: Sony Sports pic.twitter.com/5H0kWOHjM3
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 17, 2022
Babar Azam has 4 fifties and 2 hundreds in the last 7 innings in Test cricket – captain leading from front.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Sri Lanka had Pak on the mat but Babar Azam was not going to take such ignominy lying down. Marvellous century by the captain who rises in stature with every innings
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2022
25th International hundred for Babar Azam from 204 matches.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
How do you even describe how good Babar Azam is?
Once again producing one of the most spectacular Test match knocks for @TheRealPCB. Deserves a century. #SLvPAK
— Nick Creely (@NCreely) July 17, 2022
Absolutely brilliant hundred by Babar Azam. Once again showing what a magnificent and skilful batter he is #SLvPAK #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 17, 2022
The KING 🤴 BABAR AZAM 🥰🇵🇰
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 17, 2022
Stat: 175* balls faced between Babar Azam and Naseem Shah are now the second-most faced by any Pakistan pair for the last wicket. The only pair who faced more is Wasim Akram and Arshad Khan – 257 balls also against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2000. #SLvPAK
— Farid Khan 🇵🇰🇹🇷 (@_FaridKhan) July 17, 2022
Highest batting average in Test cricket since January 2018 (minimum 20 innings):
59.04 – Babar Azam 🇵🇰
58.21 – Kane Williamson 🇳🇿
54.02 – Marnus Labuschagne 🇦🇺
52.36 – Usman Khawaja 🇦🇺
52.07 – Steve Smith 🇦🇺#SLvPAK— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 17, 2022
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