Twitter Reactions: Babar Azam takes Pakistan to 219 with a patient hundred

The Pakistan batting innings in the 2nd ODI had nothing to talk home about except for their No.2 Babar Azam’s century, Shadab Khan’s half century and their hundred run partnership. Both the Pakistani openers Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad failed to give the team a good start and were dismissed for 11 and 8 respectively. In walked Babar but he lost yet another partner when Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed by Lahiru Gamage.

The pacer dealt them two of the three early blows with Suranga Lakmal bagging the other. Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed the two other experienced campaigners in the line-up walked in scored 11 and 5 runs but their stay was ended by the veteran Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera. That was when Shadab rose to the occasion.

Their team was in dire need of a partnership or faced the risk of ending with an under par total. The duo took their time, maybe too much of it to get their eye in, focused on rotating the strike and though they didn’t allow the Sri Lankans any further wickets the scoring rate was stemmed all the way which kept them behind in terms of the runs on the board.

Babar got to his 50 in the 32nd over and in the next over he hit the first boundary in 18 overs, he pulled it through deep backward square-leg to end the dry spell. He took the game deep and it was only in the penultimate over that he manage to get to his century; his 7th in ODI cricket while also stitching a 100-run partnership with Shadab Khan for the 7th wicket.

The youngster also concluded the innings with a half century to his name as the Pakistanis ended their 50 overs with 219 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to Amaz’s slow yet effective hundred:

Young Babar Azam is a run machine in ODIs. Yet another century!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 16, 2017

100 for Babar Azam, 7th of his ODI career, in 33rd innings. That’s the most number of centuries anyone scored in first 33 innings of career.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam is first batsman in ODI history to score 5 consecutive centuries in one country. Last 5 scores in UAE: 101, 103, 117, 123, 120.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam is the quickest to score 7 ODI 100s, in 33 inns. Prev: Amla in 41 inns. #PakvSL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 16, 2017

Under pressure this time @babarazam258 delivers!! Can @TheRealPCB bowlers give him full value for it ?? Well played Bhai !!! #PakvSL

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam is the fastest to reach 7 ODI hundreds, remember he had Zero centuries after 14 innings. 7 in 18 since then, unbelievable form

— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 16, 2017

No batsman has scored more runs and centuries in their first 33 ODIs than Babar Azam.

1659 runs, 7 100s. #PakvSL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 16, 2017

Not sure how this total works for Pakistan! But yet another well compiled? for Babar Azam???. I wonder how often we will say this in future.

— ian bishop (@irbishi) October 16, 2017

In just 33 matches, Babar Azam has as many ODI centuries as Misbah and Younis combined. SEVEN. #MisYou

— Umar (@Umar_Khan10) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam last 5 Odis innings in UAE
100 batting vs SL
103 vs SL
117 vs WI
123 vs WI
120 vs WI
5 100s in a row#PAKvSL#KingOfUAE

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) October 16, 2017

We talk about Kohli, KW, Root.. Then there is Babar Azam.
33 games and 7 tons. Doesn't this stand him alongside aforementioneds. #PakvsSL

— Manish Shaarma (@Manishshaarma) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam last 18 Odis innings
101, 103, 46, 38*, 10, 31*, 8, 16, 125*, 13, 100, 31, 84, 34, 33, 117, 123, 120
1133 runs @ 75.53 (7 100s)

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) October 16, 2017

Five consecutive 100s at one venue…Not sure it has ever been done!#BabarAzam #UAEStreak #PAKvSL

— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) October 16, 2017

Glad to have someone who can carry the bat and play full fifty overs,tough conditions but stuck it out,well played @babarazam258 #pakvsl

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 16, 2017

Record: No other batsman in the ODI history has scored 5 CONSECUTIVE centuries in a single country than @babarazam258's 5 in UAE. #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/Xed7F49tiG

— Cricout (@Cricout) October 16, 2017

Babar Azam continues to create new records. #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/zmgaSeVS9I

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 16, 2017

Test series, first ODI & now in 2nd ODI – Babar Azam gets out close to a break. @OsmanSamiuddin #PAKvSL

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) October 16, 2017

Pakistan players scoring consecutive ODI 100s most times:

4 Saeed Anwar
2 Mhd Yousuf, Babar Azam#PakvSL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 16, 2017

7 ODI centuries in just 33 innings. Babar ‘bar bar century’ Azam is quite a star in the making…well played ???

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 16, 2017