KARACHI: Babar Azam scored a stunning century on Friday to send Pakistan to the top of the ODI rankings as they defeated New Zealand by 102 runs in the fourth match in Karachi.
Azam scored 107 runs off 117 balls and also became the fastest batsman to reach 5000 ODI runs, as his side posted 334-6 in their 50 overs.
His 18th ODI century took him past the mark in his 97th innings in the format, beating former South African batsman Hashim Amla’s previous record of 101 innings.
With captain Tom Latham (60), Mark Chapman (46) and Daryl Mitchell (34), New Zealand were bowled out for 232 in 43.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir led Pakistan’s bowling charge with a career-best 4-43 while pacers Mohammad Wasim (3-40) and Haris Rauf (2-37) also impressed.
The win gave Pakistan a 4–0 lead in the five-match series and moved to number one for the first time since the International Cricket Council officially recognized the rankings in 2005.
Pakistan’s previous highest ODI ranking was 3rd which it achieved in January 2018 and again in June 2022.
Azam followed up with his 30th century in all international cricket after New Zealand won the toss and put the hosts into bat at the National Stadium.
The 28-year-old broke Amla’s record when he reached 19.
He added 50 runs for the second wicket with Shaun Masood (44), 127 runs for the fourth wicket with Agha Salman (58) and 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed who scored 28 runs.
Azam, who has been the number one ODI batsman for the past two years, hit 10 fours before being caught at deep midwicket by debutant Ben Lister in the 48th over.
Azam is the 14th Pakistani to score 5,000 or more runs in ODI cricket, with former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq topping the list with 11,701 runs.
He is also the fastest to score 18 ODI centuries, breaking Amla’s record of 102 innings.
Salman took 3-65 in his 46-ball 65 before being caught and bowled by fast bowler Matt Henry with two sixes and four fours.
Shaheen Shah Afridi hit three sixes and one four off seven balls to score 23 not out, making Pakistan score 94 runs in the last 10 overs.
Playing XI
New Zealand: Will Young, Tom Blundell (wicket), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Ash Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner.
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (captain), Muhammad Rizwan (wicket), Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Haris, Agha Salman, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
