Kohlis record threatened by Babar

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**Babur Azam Ends Century Drought with Blistering Fifty-Ball Ton in PSL**

KARACHI, Pakistan – After a prolonged wait, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has once again found his scoring touch in T20 cricket, smashing a magnificent century in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday. Azam reached the triple-figure mark in just 52 deliveries, batting through the entire 20 overs of the match held in Karachi.

This century marks Azam’s 12th in his T20 career and his first since February 2024, bringing an end to a nearly 783-day period without a major individual score. The knock also represents his third century in the current PSL season, all of which have come while representing Peshawar Zalmi, with two of those hundreds achieved against Quetta Gladiators.

The 52-ball innings was the second-fastest T20 century of Azam’s career, surpassed only by his previous record set against South Africa in 2021. His aggressive batting in Karachi was characterized by rapid running between the wickets, alongside his boundary-hitting prowess, which included six fours and four sixes. Notably, the remaining 52 runs of his century came from singles and doubles, with Azam facing only a single dot ball throughout his commanding innings.

Azam’s brilliant century, supported by valuable cameos from Kusal Mendis, Mohammad Haris, and Aaran Hardie, propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a formidable total of 255 for three in 20 overs. This score stands as the third-highest team total in PSL history. In response, Quetta Gladiators were bowled out for 137, securing an emphatic 118-run victory for Peshawar.

Furthermore, Azam’s 135-run partnership for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis saw him equal Indian batting star Virat Kohli’s record for the most century partnerships in T20 cricket.