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Babar Azam's spectacular century seals victory for Colombo Stikers in LPL 2023
Pakistan skipper Babar exhibits his brilliance by striking three consecutive boundaries off Kasun Rajitha in the opening over, confidently chasing down the target of 189 set by the Titans.
Lahore: Pakistan's cricket captain, Babar Azam, demonstrated his exceptional talent as he single-handedly led Colombo Stikers to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Galle Titans in an intense Lanka Premier League (LPL) match on Monday.
From the very start of his innings, Babar exhibited his brilliance by striking three consecutive boundaries off Kasun Rajitha in the opening over, confidently chasing down the target of 189 set by the Titans.
Maintaining his momentum throughout, Babar continued to dominate the opposition. He dispatched Richard Ngarava for a boundary in the fifth over and then smashed Tabraiz Shamsi for a spectacular six in the sixth over.
Unyielding in his pursuit, Babar reached a dazzling half-century in just 34 balls, marking his 87th fifty in T20 cricket, highlighting his proficiency in the shortest format of the game.
With no signs of slowing down, Babar unleashed his fury in the 14th over, launching two fiery sixes and a powerful four off Akhila Dananjaya, and followed it up with another six off Rajitha in the 15th over, cementing his position as the top run-scorer in the tournament.
In the 16th over, Babar once again displayed his sheer class by sending Shakib Al Hasan's delivery soaring over the ropes for another maximum, bringing Colombo Stikers within reach of the target.
With just 19 runs needed from the last nine balls, Babar didn't relent, and he surged ahead to complete his well-deserved century in just 57 balls. This remarkable feat marked Babar's 10th century in T20 cricket, placing him second on the list of most centuries in the format, just behind the legendary Chris Gayle.
However, in the quest for the big shot to seal the match in the final over, Babar mistimed a delivery and was caught at long-off, departing after a sensational 104-run innings, comprising eight fours and five sixes.
The baton was then passed to Nawaz, who played a brief but impactful 14-run cameo off four balls, steering Colombo Stikers to a thrilling victory with just one ball to spare.
For his heroic and match-winning performance, Babar Azam deservedly received the well-earned title of Player of the Match. His remarkable century and masterful display of cricketing prowess undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the spectators and his fellow players alike.