A new generation is ready to take guard for Pakistan in T20 internationals! Despite some poor results recently, Pakistan kept their 5-match series alive against New Zealand in a must-win 3rd T20I match in Auckland on March 21, Friday. Heroically, Hasan Nawaz, the opening batter, led from the front and helped Pakistan chase down a target of 205 with the fastest T20I century for his nation.
Hasan Nawaz hits fastest T20I century for Pakistan
Nawaz, opening the batting with Mohammad Haris, gave Pakistan an awesome start as the duo made 74 in 5.5 overs. This led Pakistan to their highest score in powerplay overs too! While Haris was caught behind, Nawaz continued his stellar touch. He used power and deft to hammer the Kiwi bowlers for runs on a small Eden Park.
With the help of ten boundaries and seven sixes, Nawaz won his side the match with nine wickets and as many as 24 balls remaining! During his blitzkrieg, Nawaz reached his maiden T20I century in just a matter of 44 balls. With this feat, he now holds the record for hitting the fastest T20I ton, beating Babar Azam’s record. Babar, who isn’t part of the current T20I squad, hit a 49-ball ton against South Africa away from home in 2021.
5 Fastest Century for Pakistan in T20Is
| Balls Faced | Player | Opponent | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Hasan Nawaz | New Zealand | Auckland | 2025 |
| 49 | Babar Azam | South Africa | Centurion | 2021 |
| 58 | Babar Azam | New Zealand | Lahore | 2023 |
| 58 | Ahmed Shehzad | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 2014 |
| 62 | Babar Azam | England | Karachi | 2022 |
| 63 | Mohammed Rizwan | South Africa | Lahore | 2021 |
NZ vs PAK: 200+ run chase made easy
What a thrilling chase it was by Pakistan! They made it look effortless, wrapping up the win with 4 overs to spare. The tiny Eden Park ground and dew certainly played into their hands, but Pakistan will be ecstatic with this result. Hasan Nawaz stole the show, initially playing second fiddle to Haris before taking charge and smashing his maiden T20I century. New Zealand was left clueless on a pitch that played true, and even a target of 250 might not have been enough to stop Pakistan’s momentum!
