betvisa livePAK vs SL: Fans erupt in joy as Babar Azam ends century drought with a record breaking innings during the 2nd ODI

Table of Contents

The end of the 807-day drought and Virat Kohli’s coincidence
Babar Azam’s record-breaking feats and ODI supremacy
Here’s how fans reacted:

Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam emphatically ended his prolonged century drought, scoring an unbeaten ton in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The highly significant knock came after a massive gap of 807 days and exactly 83 innings across all three international formats.

Babar’s performance not only powered Pakistan to an unassailable 2-0 series lead but also pushed him to the top of several national and international batting records. The right-handed batter played an unbeaten knock of 102 off 119 balls as Pakistan chased down the target of 289 with eight wickets in hand. His personal milestone was made even more profound by an extraordinary statistical coincidence with Indian batting legend Virat Kohli, making the century a testament to Babar’s belief in his process and determination.

The end of the 807-day drought and Virat Kohli’s coincidence

The former Pakistan captain finally found his rhythm, confirming the end of the extended scoring lapse as he went past the three-figure mark for the first time in international cricket after 83 innings and 33 innings in ODIs. This monumental achievement closed a prolonged period of scrutiny which had seen the batter fail to convert starts for over two years. The century was his first international hundred since he scored a ton against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup at Multan, marking an agonizing 807-day period without a triple-figure score at the highest level.

The significance of the number 83 was amplified by a strange statistical parallel involving a contemporary great: it was noted that Kohli’s own international century drought from 2019 to 2022 had also spanned exactly 83 innings before he broke the spell against Afghanistan. This coincidence links the two batting icons in a unique way, highlighting the immense pressure both players faced during their dry spells before breaking through. His unbeaten performance was pivotal in the run chase, successfully securing Pakistan’s victory and the unassailable 2-0 series lead.

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Babar Azam’s record-breaking feats and ODI supremacy

Babar’s century in Rawalpindi was a record-breaking performance that instantly reposition him at the top of several national and international ODI lists, confirming his current supremacy in the format. Crucially, the knock was his 20th ODI ton, which ties him with the legendary Saeed Anwar for the most ODI centuries scored by a Pakistani batter, a record Anwar held solely for many years. The century was also highly significant for his domestic records, as it marked his eighth ODI century on Pakistani soil, thereby surpassing Mohammad Yousuf’s previous tally of seven centuries to hold the record for the most at home.

This consistent home record underscores his immense value and mastery when playing in front of his local crowds in Pakistan, where he now owns an impressive home ODI average of 63.32. On the international stage, Babar’s speed to the milestone reaffirmed his place among the fastest ever to play the 50-over format. The statistics show that he is the third fastest to hit 20 ODI centuries, achieving the feat in his 136th inning.

He is only marginally behind Hashim Amla (108 innings) and Kohli (133 innings), placing him in truly elite company globally. Furthermore, the right-hander edged closer to another national record held by the great Inzamam-ul-Haq concerning century partnerships for Pakistan. Babar has now featured in 40 stands of 100 or more runs in ODIs, placing him just one partnership away from tying Inzamam’s all-time record of 41. His unbeaten 102 runs in the second ODI against Sri Lanka ensured Pakistan clinched the series and maintained their dominant record against the Lankans.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Babar Azam has returned to century-scoring form for the first time in 807 days.
Don’t miss him in Sixers colours this summer. Get your tickets today! 🎟️
👉
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL)

A Babar Azam 100 is always an iconic moment at the ground, hear the deafening noise.
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial)

Never doubted Babar Azam during the bad patch. He was never out of form, nor did he ever lack technique. It was more of a love–hate relationship from the fans, whose expectations are always way high for a batter like him.
— Ameer Hamza Asif (@AmeerHamzaAsif)

The King Babar Azam commentating on his century. 😂😂 It was fun but I am glad to see him scoring his 20th ODI century after a long drought of 535 days. He also equaled Saeed Anwar's record for scoring the most centuries for Pakistan.
— Niaz Hussain (@niaz143nh)