India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2022: Babar Azam smashes another HUGE record to warm-up for IND clash

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form in the second ODI against the Netherlands to guide his side to a series win on Thursday (August 28). Babar scored his eight half-century in nine ODI innings – stroking 57 off 65 balls to lead Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory.

Over the course of the innings, Babar smashed another huge ODI record. Babar Azam has scored 4573 ODI runs after 89 ODI innings, breaking former South African batter Hashim Amla’s world record again for most ODI runs after 89 ODI innings. Amla had scored 4,539 ODI runs after 89 ODI innings.

Babar Azam has scored 4573 ODI runs after 89 inns, broke Hashim Amla's world record again for most ODI runs after 89 ODI inns, Amla scored 4539 ODI runs after 89 ODI inns. Babar Azam continues to deal in world records. Congratulations Pakistan. @babarazam258 #KingBabar #Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 18, 2022

Babar scored a strokeful 65-ball 57, while Rizwan completed 1,000 ODI runs in his 49th match on the way to 69 not out as Pakistan achieved the 187-run target in 33.4 overs. The two reliable and dependable batters had joined the act at the score of 11 for two and added 88 runs for the third wicket. Babar, who reached his 21st career half-century from 52 balls with six fours, struck seven fours, while Rizwan hit six fours and a six in an 82-ball innings. The wicketkeeper-batter had completed his first half-century in four matches from 72 balls with four fours.

The two had paired together after Fakhar Zaman found a leading edge to be caught by Vivian Kingma off his own bowling. Four balls later, Kingma dismissed Imam-ul-Haq, who was caught by Logan van Beek at point.

While Rizwan was innovative and cheeky, as always, Babar was elegant, graceful and attractive, as ever, hitting almost everything from the sweet-spot of his willow until he perished with a mishit off off-spinner Aryan Dutt. The two batters dominated the proceedings from the very start and immediately shifted the pressure back on the Netherlands who were aiming for more wickets after quickly removing the two openers.

Following Babar’s departure, Salman Ali Agha joined Rizwan and returned unbeaten on 50, his maiden half-century in his second appearance. Salman showed signs of talent and skills when he played some delightful strokes, including his only six that turned out to be the winning shot that also brought him his 50. He faced 35 balls and hit five fours and two sixes, and added 92 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket.

Earlier, the Netherlands elected to bat first and lost their first three wickets for eight runs and last seven wickets for 178 runs to be bowled out for 186 in 44.1 overs. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz equally shared six wickets between them conceding 16 and 42 runs, respectively, while Naseem Shah snapped up two for 27.

Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India in their Asia Cup 2022 opener in Dubai on August 28.