Babar Azam becomes leading T20I run-scorer as Pakistan set up decider

Babar Azam became the leading run-scorer in men's Twenty20 internationals and added another landmark to his career during Pakistan's three-match series against South Africa in Lahore, finishing the second T20I unbeaten as Pakistan levelled the series and then registering a fifty in the decider at Gaddafi Stadium. The milestones came on October 31 and November 1 as Pakistan took the second match by nine wickets and forced a series decider the following day.

Babar moved past Rohit Sharma's career total when he finished unbeaten on 11 in the second T20I, taking his career tally to 4,234 runs from 130 matches and surpassing Rohit's 4,231. Pakistan bowled South Africa out for 110 in 19.2 overs, with Faheem Ashraf claiming four wickets and Salman Mirza taking three. In reply, opener Saim Ayub starred with an unbeaten 71 off 38 balls as Pakistan chased 111 in just 13.1 overs.

Match reports from Lahore say Babar then scored a 36-ball fifty in the third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, a knock that moved him ahead of Virat Kohli for the most scores of fifty or more in T20 internationals. The crowd of around 32,000 cheered as Babar reached the milestone, and the innings marked his first T20...