In the first T20 match against South Africa, Pakistan suffered an 11-run defeat despite Mohammad Rizwan’s impressive knock of 74 runs. Chasing a target of 184, Pakistan managed only 172 runs, falling short in the final over. With 19 runs needed in the last six balls, Rizwan was dismissed in the 20th over, leaving his team unable to secure victory.
While Rizwan’s half-century stood out, other Pakistani batsmen failed to deliver. Captain Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck, while Saim Ayub and Tayyab Tahir contributed 31 and 18 runs, respectively, but couldn’t convert their starts into significant scores.
Rizwan Surpasses Jos Buttler in T20I Runs
Rizwan’s innings against South Africa included five boundaries and three sixes, taking his T20I run tally to 3403. This achievement moved him past England’s Jos Buttler, who has 3389 runs, making Rizwan the sixth-highest run-scorer in T20 International cricket.
The list is led by India’s Rohit Sharma (4231), with Babar Azam (4192) and Virat Kohli (4188) close behind. Paul Stirling (3655) and Martin Guptill (3531) complete the top five. Rizwan’s consistency as a batsman has been instrumental in Pakistan’s limited-overs success, further cementing his place among T20 cricket’s elite.
A Stellar Career Since 2015
Since his T20I debut in 2015, the 32-year-old Rizwan has been a key figure for Pakistan. Over 105 matches, he has scored 3403 runs, including one century and 30 half-centuries. Recently appointed as the captain of Pakistan’s limited-overs side, Rizwan continues to showcase his leadership and batting prowess.
However, the match against South Africa highlighted the team’s dependence on him, as early dismissals, including Babar Azam’s, put Pakistan on the back foot. The loss underscored the need for greater contributions from the batting lineup to support Rizwan’s efforts.
Rizwan’s individual brilliance remains a silver lining in Pakistan’s defeat, emphasizing his importance to the team both as a leader and a batsman.
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