Babar Azam’s anticipate a world century prolonged to 800 days after he fell for 29 within the ODI sequence opener towards Sri Lanka on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, November 11. The Pakistan skipper managed three boundaries in his 51-ball keep earlier than Wanindu Hasaranga’s googly cleaned him up.
It has now been 83 innings since Babar final reached three figures — a century scored in the course of the Asia Cup 2023 towards Nepal. With this, he has equaled Virat Kohli’s document of most innings with no century in worldwide cricket. Amongst Asian batters, Sanath Jayasuriya tops the listing, having ended an identical drought after 87 innings.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Updates
After being put in to bat, Pakistan suffered an early setback with Saim Ayub falling to Asitha Fernando. Babar then joined Fakhar Zaman to rebuild the innings, including 54 runs for the second wicket. Nonetheless, Hasaranga’s brilliance as soon as once more shifted momentum Sri Lanka’s approach, as he broke the stand with the prized wicket of Babar.
BABAR FALLS AFTER PROMISING START
Babar Azam’s innings towards Sri Lanka was a quick exhibition of sophistication, timing, and class — till a second of magic from Wanindu Hasaranga introduced it to an abrupt finish. The Pakistan skipper started his knock in usually fluent style.
Going through Maheesh Theekshana, Babar obtained going with a pair of beautiful boundaries — the primary a crisp minimize by backward level off a brief ball, the second a flashing slash over level that beat the fielder within the deep.
However after that fluent begin, the scoring fee slowed. The Sri Lankan spinners tightened the screws, forcing Babar to depend on endurance reasonably than energy. When Janith Liyanage overpitched, Babar broke a 25-ball boundary drought with a fantastically timed straight drive previous mid-on — a reminder of his class even amid stress.
Nonetheless, simply as he appeared poised to rebuild Pakistan’s innings, Hasaranga produced a gem. The leg-spinner delivered a googly that drifted in from exterior off, inviting Babar ahead right into a defensive push.
The ball spun sharply, sneaking by the gate to clip the highest of off-stump — a supply adequate to beat any batter on the earth. Babar stood momentarily surprised earlier than strolling again, leaving Pakistan in a spot of trouble.
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