PAK vs NZ: Mohammad Rizwan sets record for fastest 3000 T20I runs

All eyes were set on the second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand after the first one was washed out after only two deliveries a few days back. Pakistan won the toss and Babar Azam opted to field first. New Zealand never really got going, losing three wickets in the powerplay itself. Even though Pakistan were playing a second-string Kiwi side, the latter were expected to put up a better fight. However, none of the batters could score even 20 runs, with the visitors blacking out for 90 in 18.1 overs. The pace battery of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir (who was playing his first T20I after 3.5 years), were the prime wreckers in chief, scalping six out of the 10 wickets, while also constraining the flow of runs.

Coming to the chase, a modest 91-run target was never going to be enough for New Zealand to defend, even after left-armer Ben Lister took a well-judged caught & bowled off opener Saim Ayub on the second ball of the chase after getting tonked to deep backward square-leg for a boundary to start off proceedings in some style. Out came Mohammad Rizwan, straightaway getting into the act with a majestic square drive to the cover-point fence for a first-ball four. 

Also Read: Pak vs NZ: Azam Khan ruled out of T20I series due to calf muscle tear

A remarkable milestone was achieved by Rizwan, playing his 92nd match, when he chopped a delivery bowled by New Zealand's captain, Michael Bracewell, to point to pick up his third boundary of the innings. He moved from 16* (11) to 20* (12) courtesy of the boundary that etched his name into the annals of cricketing history, beating greats like Indian icon Virat Kohli and his dear friend Babar Azam to the 3000-run mark in T20Is. While Kohli and Azam achieved the landmark in 81 T20I innings, Rizwan attained it in two innings less (79). 

Having a T20I average better than the batters leading the chart of most runs scored in T20Is (49.60) barring Kohli (51.75) who sits at the apex of the pyramid, Rizwan became the eighth batter to go past the 3000-run mark, eventually guiding his team to a seven-wicket victory while ending up on an unbeaten score of 45 off 34 deliveries.