Pakistan’s Babar Azam celebrates after scoring a fifty during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/KM Chaudary) Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Saturday broke Virat Kohli’s T20I record with a match-winning 68 off 46 balls to lead Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the final match of their three-match series in Lahore on Saturday. The win sealed a 2-1 series triumph for Pakistan, who successfully chased South Africa to 139-9 to reach 140-6 in 19 overs.South Africa, with an inexperienced team, opened the series with a commanding 55-run victory in Rawalpindi, but Pakistan bounced back strongly with back-to-back victories in Lahore to clinch the series.
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Overlooked for almost a year, Babar has made a strong comeback as Pakistan continue to fine-tune their batting line-up ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.After a duck in the opening match, Babar broke Rohit Sharma’s record for most runs in T20s with his unbeaten 11 in the second match. His composed innings in the last game showed renewed confidence, especially against the pacers who were struggling with a wet ball due to heavy dew.Babar shared a decisive 76-run stand with skipper Salman Ali Agha (33), which proved to be decisive in Pakistan’s chase.“This innings was long overdue,” said Babar. “I backed myself and the team believed in me. It’s about how you absorb the pressure. I just wanted to play according to the situation.”
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Although Pakistan stumbled briefly with four wickets falling for 14 runs, Babar’s knock had already laid the foundation for victory.With this innings, Babar now holds the record for most fifty-plus scores in T20Is – 40 (37 fifties and 3 hundreds) – surpassing Virat Kohli’s 39 (38 fifties and 1 hundred). This was also Babar’s first T20I fifty since May 2024 against Ireland.PlayerNation50 plus scoreBabar AzamPakistan37 fifties, 3 hundredsVirat KohliIndia38 fifties, 100Rohit SharmaIndia32 Fifties, 5 CenturiesMohammad RizwanPakistan30 1950s, 100David WarnerAustralia28 1950s, 100
