Babar Azam becomes fastest player to score 5000 ODI runs

Pakistan's all-format skipper Babar Azam continues to scale great heights in the international circuit as the run-machine became the fastest to 5000 ODI runs during his side's fourth ODI against New Zealand in Karachi. He reached the milestone in just 97 innings, breaching Hashim Amla's record of 101 innings, becoming the 14th Pakistani batter to reach the landmark.

The no.1 ODI batter in the world, who registered back-to-back half-centuries in the previous two matches against the visiting New Zealand side, reached the milestone of 5000 ODI runs after scoring his 19th run in the match. He is now the outright fastest to the feat, beating Hashim Amla's previous record and also leaving behind the likes of Vivian Richards (114 innings), Virat Kohli (114 innings) and David Warner (115 innings).

The Pakistani skipper celebrated the feat by registering a swashbuckling century, his 18th in the format and second against New Zealand. His seventh ODI century as a Pakistani skipper means that he is just two centuries away from Saeed Anwar's record of 20 centuries, the most by any Pakistani batter in the 50-over format.

Ian Raphael Bishop@irbishi

Some of these Babar Azam drives today though🥰🥰. Happy 18th ODI century, & Congrats on becoming the fastest to 5000 ODI runs. That’s not to be taken lightly, given the great names he has surpassed👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

07:32 PM · May 05, 2023

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Pakistan finishes with a flurry after Babar's century

Coming to the match, Babar made his way to the middle after star opener Fakhar Zaman departed in the seventh over of the match, following New Zealand's decision to bowl first in the contest. The Pakistani skipper stiched healthy partnerships with Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan, but it was his 117-run stand with Agha Salman, which put the home side in a commanding position.

Although Babar was dismissed at the fag end of the innings after his magnificent century, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Haris deflated the Kiwis with an explosive finish to the innings, taking the home side to a handsome total of 334 runs in their 50 overs.