Dubai: Babar Azam (79, 58b, 7×4, 2×6) became the quickest batsman to reach 1,000 runs in T20I as Pakistan whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 with a comfortable 47-run win in the third and final match in Dubai Sunday.
The 24-year-old – ranked No.1 in T20s – hit a punishing knock while Mohammad Hafeez (53 n o, 34b, 4×4, 2×6) hit an unbeaten half century to lift Pakistan to 166/3 at Dubai stadium.
Spinners Shadab Khan (3/30) and Imad Wasim (2/28) then hastened New Zealand’s demise to 119 all out in 16.5 overs as the Kiwis lost their last eight wickets for just 23 runs. This also becomes Pakistan’s second series whitewash after romping past Australia 3-0 last Sunday.
Skipper Kane Williamson (60, 28b, 8×4, 2×6) top scored for New Zealand while opener Glenn Phillips (26) patient knock in the end couldn’t help.
Azam, when on 48, completed 1,000 runs in the shortest format of the game in just 26 innings, bettering India’s Virat Kohli’s record of reaching the mark in 27 innings.
Williamson and Phillips added 83 runs for the third wicket after New Zealand lost big-hitting openers Colin Munro (two) and Colin de Grandhomme (six) cheaply
But once both fell off Shadab in the same over, the innings fell apart, with only Ish Sodhi (11) reaching double figures. Ross Taylor (seven), Mark Chapman (two) and Tim Seifert (zero) also fell in quick succession with debutant birthday boy Waqas Maqsood (2/21) also chipping in.
Earlier, Azam and Hafeez set the tone for Pakistan’s big total after they won the toss, adding 94 runs for the second wicket after Fakhar Zaman (11) fell early.
