Pakistan's Babar Azam becomes third fastest to reach 5,000 runs in T20 cricket

Batsman crosses milestone during career-best 114 for Somerset in T20 Blast

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Pakistan captain and star batsman Babar Azam broke a few records during his innings of 114 not out for Somerset in the T20 Blast.

Azam scored his runs off just 62 balls to help Somerset ease to a comfortable 66-run win over Glamorgan and improve their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

It was his highest score in T20 cricket. And during his innings, Azam crossed the milestone of 5,000 runs in the format. Azam became the third fastest to reach the mark – in 145 innings. Only West Indies T20 legend Chris Gayle (132 innings) and Australian Shaun Marsh (144) have taken fewer innings to score 5,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Somerset batted first and made 183-3 in their 20 overs, with Azam scoring a majority of the runs while opening the innings. He hit nine fours and five sixes during his knock after being dropped twice.

Glamorgan lost their first two wickets in nine balls and the match was as good as over when they collapsed to 62-6 at the halfway stage. They could only muster 117 in 15.5 overs at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Azam once again underlined his status as the premier T20 batsman in the world. The Pakistan star was recently overtaken by England Dawid Malan at the top of the ICC rankings for T20 batsmen.