In the match against Canada in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial and well-calculated innings to secure Pakistan’s first win. Rizwan scored an unbeaten 53 runs off 53 balls, featuring two fours and a six, guiding Pakistan to victory in the 18th over with a seven-wicket win at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Rizwan’s composed half-century led Pakistan to a much-needed win and saw him equal Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s record for the most fifty-plus scores as an opener in T20Is. Both players now have 30 fifty-plus scores, with Rizwan achieving this feat in just 71 innings compared to Sharma’s 118. Additionally, Rizwan’s fifth half-century in T20 World Cup history matched Babar Azam’s record for the most such scores for Pakistan in the tournament.
Rizwan’s Run-a-ball Fifty Becomes the Slowest Fifty in T20 World Cup History
Rizwan’s knock also saw him setting an unwanted record. His 52-ball fifty became the slowest in T20 World Cup history, surpassing David Miller’s previous record of a 50-ball half-century against the Netherlands earlier in the same tournament. Despite the slow pace, Rizwan’s innings were essential, given the challenging conditions and the difficulty teams have faced in scoring at this venue.
Pakistan is chasing a modest target of 107 runs after losing opener Saim Ayub early in the fifth over, putting them under a spot. In partnership with captain Babar Azam, Rizwan anchored the innings with a crucial 63-run stand for the second wicket, ensuring their team’s safe passage to the target. Babar contributed significantly with his steady knock, allowing Rizwan to play the anchor role.
The victory propelled Pakistan to the third spot in Group A, with two points and an improved net run rate of 0.191, trailing behind the USA (0.626) and India (1.455). This win has revitalized Pakistan’s campaign, keeping their hopes alive in the tournament.
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