Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam roared back in style against New Zealand in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday. Babar, who was going through a really tough phase as a batter and was seen struggling to score runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022, smashed a stunning half-century in the crucial knockout fixture as Pakistan defeated last year’s runner-up by seven wickets to enter the final.
Babar Azam scored 53 odd 42 balls as he and Mohammad Rizwan gave the team an explosive start. Chasing a target of 153 runs, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan took on the New Zealand bowlers from the word go as they raised their 9th-century partnership in T20Is and put on 105 runs in 12/4 overs. Babar Azam got a life after he was dropped when he was on a duck and he made sure to make full use of it.
Babar Azam scored 49 runs in total before this innings in this world cup. As a result, he was getting heavily criticized by experts and fans alike. However, with this half-century, Azam has silenced many and even Indian fans are praising his comeback.
Check out the reactions of fans:
The duo is back!! #BabarAzam𓃵 🤜🤛 #MohammadRizwan
Pak vs Nz #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pfUcuLHvXp— 👑 (@cafffeiinee) November 9, 2022
Well played Babar and Rizwan, what a powerful performance you have showcased in today’s match, once again an important partnership between the two most composed and skilled players. Congratulations #PAKvsNZ #T20WorldCup2022
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 9, 2022
It is scary now. pic.twitter.com/mFpPYPwtvm
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) November 9, 2022
OCT 27, 2022: Babar Azam said “To be honest, It is very tough for us to qualify for the semi finals now.”
NOV 9, 2022: Babar Azam leads Pakistan to become the 1st finalists of T20 World Cup 2022.
Congratulations Pakistan#BabarAzam𓃵 #PakvsNz #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/uzbuv8LhsU— Gaurav Pandit🇮🇳 (@igauravpandit) November 9, 2022
Well played, Babar Azam – 53 runs from 42 balls in the Semi-final, he was under huge pressure after below par performance in the Group stage. pic.twitter.com/LzYSiBI9Mm
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 9, 2022
That Square Cut and Straight drive shows how Classy batsman is Babar Azam. Elegance. Poetry in the motion.
— Avinash Aryan (@AvinashArya09) November 9, 2022
When criticising players like Babar and Rizwan don’t follow social media trends, think about their class. Top players can’t be written off because of loss of form. #bigmatchplayers
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 9, 2022
Babar Azam completes his 30th fifty in T20I. cometh the hour, cometh the man.
— Avinash Aryan (@AvinashArya09) November 9, 2022
Talking about the game, Pakistan brought out their best when it mattered the most and registered a stunning win over New Zealand in the must-win 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Sydney. Pakistan was all but out of contention after suffering back-to-back defeats, however, the team gave a stunning team performance as they made an inspirational comeback in the tournament.
Before Rizwan and Babar took the game by storm and helped their side chase down the total, Shaheen Afridi and Co. restricted the Kane Williamson-led Kiwis to 152/4.
This is Pakistan’s third entry into the T20 World Cup final. They will now lock horns with either India or England at the final showdown.
