Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam matched three major Pakistan Super League (PSL) records after smashing a brilliant century against Islamabad United in the PSL 11 Qualifier at the National Stadium.
Babar scored 103 off 59 balls, hitting 12 fours and four sixes, as Zalmi piled up 221/7 before bowling Islamabad out for 151 to seal a dominant 70-run win and book their place in the final.
The century was Babar’s second hundred of the ongoing season, making him only the second batter in PSL history to score two centuries in a single edition. He joined Usman Khan, who first achieved the feat in PSL 9.
It was also Babar’s fourth PSL century overall, which took him level with Usman Khan for the most hundreds in the tournament’s history.
Most Centuries in PSL
Player
Centuries
Innings
Usman Khan
4
35
Babar Azam
4
110
Kamran Akmal
3
74
Rilee Rossouw
3
98
Fakhar Zaman
3
105
Babar’s latest knock also saw him draw level with Fakhar Zaman for the most runs scored in a single PSL season. Fakhar had set the benchmark with 588 runs in the 2022 edition, and Babar has now matched that tally in just 10 innings this season.
He has reached the mark at an average of 98.00 and a strike rate of 146.63, with two centuries and three half-centuries to his name so far.
Most Runs in a PSL Season
Player
Team
Runs
Season
Fakhar Zaman
Lahore Qalandars
588
2022
Babar Azam
Peshawar Zalmi
588*
2024
Babar Azam
Peshawar Zalmi
569
2024
Babar Azam
Karachi Kings
554
2021
Mohammad Rizwan
Multan Sultans
550
2023
Mohammad Rizwan
Multan Sultans
546
2022
Kusal Mendis
Peshawar Zalmi
541*
2026
Babar Azam
Peshawar Zalmi
522
2023
Mohammad Rizwan
Multan Sultans
500
2021
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Babar said he is beginning to feel like he is returning to his best. He said the work he put in before the tournament is now paying off and added that he wants to maintain the same level of consistency going forward.
The Zalmi captain also credited Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis for giving the side strong starts at the top, saying early momentum in the powerplay allows him to settle in and build the innings according to the match situation.
He reserved special praise for Aaron Hardie, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit for their role in turning the Qualifier decisively in Zalmi’s favour. According to Babar, their bowling burst in the second half of Islamabad’s innings changed the game and underlined the all-round effort his team has shown throughout the tournament.
With just one defeat in the campaign so far, Zalmi now head into the final with momentum firmly on their side and their captain in record-equaling form.
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