SYDNEY: Another match-winning masterclass has been produced by Babar Azam in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL 15). He made 58 runs off 46 balls, was calm and calculated. He steered the Sydney Sixers past the Melbourne Renegades.
The team was chasing 165. The innings was coolly guided by Babar Azam from the top. He scored 1 six and 4 fours. His knock was paced perfectly. He absorbed pressure and remained steady throughout his innings. Eventually, when the run rate crept up, he accelerated at the right time.
The chase was also finished by him. He finished the game with a winning boundary. Sean Abbott was named the player of the match. This was due to his brilliant bowling spell. He took 3 wickets in 4 overs and gave off 16 runs.
Babar’s focus was on rebuilding after wickets fell early in the innings. He kept the scoreboard moving with quick singles and smart placement. He never looked rushed, even when it seemed that the run rate was rising.
Once Babar Azam had set himself, he started hitting in a power surge. He targeted the gaps over the infield and in front of the square and transformed a very tense situation into a comfortable one. He made a partnership with Joel Davies, which was crucial to winning the match. The stabilising role that Babar played allowed Joel to play more freely.
The other Pakistani star in the match, Mohammad Rizwan, fell flat. He could only score 6 runs in 10 balls. He went out early in the innings, disappointing his fans.
