Tag: Babar Azam LPL century

South African left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has defended Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who is often criticised for his performance against left-arm spinners.

Tabraiz Shamsi in a recent interview showered praises on Babar Azam for averaging fifty in international cricket, while being labelled as weak.

“Well if people are saying that he [Babar] is weak and he’s averaging fifty, I wouldn’t like to see him when he’s not weak,” he said.

He called Babar Azam a ‘world-class player’ and stressed the fact that maintaining an average of fifty is not an easy feat in international cricket.

“He’s a world-class player, it’s not a joke averaging fifty in International cricket, so I think those kinds of things that people are saying it’s uncalled for,” Shamsi said.

He further added: “He’s obviously a class player and yeah at any given day any bowler can get any batsman out, and at any given day any batsman can make a hundred, so anybody that is playing at that level is very good, so I think we need to appreciate that.”

Recently, Afghaistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is playing for Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), has also voiced the same kind of sentiments for Babar Azam.

“Babar is the favourite player of most of the young fans, even for me. I like the way he bats, everyone likes his way of batting, and I can say he is a legend right now,” he said.

Notably, Babar Azam, who is currently representing Colombo Strikers in the LPL, has been in stellar form in the tournament. He is the highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 235 runs in five games, maintaining an impressive average of 47.00 and strike rate of 143.29.

He showed his impressive batting prowess in his innings of 104 off 59 deliveries against Tabraiz Shamsi’s Galle Titans. Babar’s remarkable century was laced with eight fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 176.27.

Meanwhile, Tabraiz Shamsi has managed to pick up five wickets in as many games, at an average of 31.40.

READ: Shakib Al Hasan named Bangladesh captain for Asia Cup, ICC World Cup

PALLEKELE: A collective effort from the bowlers, followed by Nishan Madushka’s 46-run knock, propelled Jaffna Kings to thump Colombo Strikers by six wickets in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) on Tuesday.

Contrary to the tradition in the LPL 2023, Colombo Strikers’ captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pathum Nissanka and Babar Azam, who scored a hundred in the last game, started things on a high with a solid opening partnership of 57 runs in seven overs, before the former fell prey to Wellalage. Nissanka’s 36 off 27 was laced with seven boundaries.

Babar Azam soon followed him as he was caught by David Miller off Madushanka at backward point, after scoring 24 off 21 balls. Nuwanidu Fernando (2) also fell in the same over, thanks to a brilliant catch by Maheesh Theekshana at deep square leg.

Wellalage castled Iftikhar Ahmed (2) in the next over, who was playing his first game of LPL, after leading Surrey Jaguars to the final of the recently concluded GT20 Canada.

Lahiru Udara and Mohammad Nawaz, then knitted a brief partnership of 30 runs before Udara holed one back to Theekshana. He scored a cautious 29 off 25 with the help of two boundaries and one six.

Nawaz and Chamika Karunaratne’s 40-run stand for the sixth wicket saw the Strikers’ score reach 139 before Nawaz departed in the 19th over. He scored 27 runs off 21 deliveries.

Karunaratne, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 21 and led the Strikers to finish at 146/8 in 20 overs.

Dunith Wellalage and Dilshan Madushanka spearheaded Jaffna Kings’ bowling charge, taking two wickets each,  while Theekshana, Thushara and Shoaib Malik chipped in with one wicket each.

The Kings had a flying start to the chase, as they quickly raced to 50 runs in the fifth over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the core aggressor of the opening stand as he scored 39 runs off 21 balls at a strike rate of 185 before falling to Pathirana in the sixth over. His innings featured three boundaries and as many sixes.

Gurbaz’s opening partner Dilshan Madushanka, who had a cautious start to his knock as he anchored amid Gurbaz’s onslaught, shifted gears after the former’s dismissal.

He partnered with Charith Asalanka (12) for a 39-run partnership, while added 30 runs for the third wicket with captain Thisara Perera (17).

With Madushka and Perera firm on the crease, it appeared to be a straightforward pursuit for the Kings, requiring 20 runs off eight overs but Naseem Shah caused a stir as he dismissed both set batters in his third over.

Madushka top-scored with 46 off 32 deliveries, courtesy of three boundaries and three sixes.

Towhid Hridoy gave the final touch to an already illustrated run-chase as he finished the game with a four off Naseem to guide Jaffna Kings to a dominant six-wicket win. He scored 14 runs off nine balls with the help of three boundaries.

Naseem picked two wickets for Strikers, while Pathirana and Sandakan contributed with one wicket each.

Jaffna Kings will now face B-Love Kandy on August 12 in the 15th match of the LPL, while Colombo Strikers will face Dambulla Aura in the 16th game on the same day.

READ: Hasaranga powers B-Love Kandy to thrash Galle Titans in LPL

PALLEKELE: Babar Azam scored his maiden Lanka Premier League (LPL) century and powered Colombo Strikers to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Galle Titans.

Set to chase a massive 189, the Strikers completed the pursuit on the penultimate delivery for the loss of three wickets, courtesy of a sensational century by Babar Azam.

Strikers’ openers Babar and Pathum Nissanka scripted a solid start to the pursuit as they added 111 runs before Tabraiz Shamsi drew a much-needed breakthrough for the Titans by dismissing Nissanka.

Nissanka scored an anchoring 54 off 40 deliveries, laced up with five boundaries and a six.

Babar Azam was then joined by Nuwanidu Fernando at the crease and the pair knitted a vital 55-run partnership for the second wicket.

The second-wicket stand was massively dominated by Babar while Fernando batted cautiously before falling to Shamsi in the 18th over. He could score eight off 13.

Despite Babar Azam’s blitz, the high-scoring encounter came right down to the wire with the Strikers needing 14 off the final over.

Kasun Rajitha, set to defend 14, bowled a fuller delivery outside off and Babar Azam holed it straight to the long-off fielder.

He smashed eight boundaries and five sixes on his way to a 59-ball 104.

The Strikers, with their mainstay back in the hut, looked in deep trouble but Mohammad Nawaz smashed Rajitha for a six and a boundary to seal the deal for the Strikers with one ball to spare.

Shamsi led the bowling attack for the Titans with 2/27 while Rajitha made one scalp.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Titans put on a commendable total of 188/3 in the allotted 20 overs at the back of a brilliant half-century by Tim Seifert and opening batter Shevon Daniel’s 49.

Seifert top-scored for the Titans with an unbeaten 54 off 35 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Whereas, Daniel scored 49 from 31 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.

Besides them, Lasith Croospulle (36 off 19) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (30 off 31) made notable contributions.

For the Strikers, Naseem Shah, Ramesh Mendis and  Lakshan Sandakan picked up one wicket apiece.

A close seven-wicket victory lifted Colombo Strikers to the third in the LPL standings with four points in as many matches while the Titans remained at the second spot due to a superior net run rate.

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