THIS young star smashes Babar Azam’s record in T20 records, becomes first from Pakistan to…

Young Pakistan opener smashed a century of 44 balls to set up his side’s nine-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I match in Auckland.

A young batter from Layyah area of Southern Punjab in Pakistan has set the cricketing world ablaze in Auckland on Friday. We are talking about Hasan Nawaz who smashed a blazing maiden century in T20I cricket off just 44 balls to lift former world champions Pakistan to a nine-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I match and keep their hopes alive in the five-match series.

After losing the toss in the first two games—and both matches—Pakistan flipped the script by opting to bowl first and taking full advantage. New Zealand posted a competitive 204, but Pakistan chased it down emphatically, finishing on 207 for one with four overs to spare. The victory marked New Zealand’s heaviest T20 defeat by wickets.

Nawaz, who had been dismissed for zero in both prior matches, silenced critics with a stunning comeback, forming an unbroken 133-run stand with captain Salman Ali Agha, who contributed a brisk 51 off 31 balls.

“I failed in the first two games and I thank the team for backing me,” Nawaz said through an interpreter after the match. “Once I got my first run, the pressure was off. Then I just focused on winning the match.”

Fastest T20I hundreds for Pakistan

Earlier, Mark Chapman anchored New Zealand’s innings with a blistering 94 from 44 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and four sixes. However, he lacked support as the hosts were bowled out with just one ball remaining in their innings. Haris Rauf starred with the ball, taking 3-29 during a crucial middle-over spell.

Pakistan’s selectors had opted to keep faith in Nawaz and Mohammad Haris at the top of the order, despite their underwhelming opening stands of just one run in each of the first two matches. On Friday, the pair finally clicked, adding 75 runs inside the power play.

Haris set the tone with a rapid 41 off 20 balls, peppering the boundary with four fours and three sixes, including two in the opening over from Kyle Jamieson. The fast bowler, who had impressed earlier in the series, was taken for 30 runs in his first two overs.

By the 10-over mark, Pakistan had already surged to 124 for 1, well ahead of New Zealand’s 105-3 at the same stage. The momentum continued as Jacob Duffy’s 13th over went for 19 runs, including two sixes. Nawaz brought up his maiden international fifty from 26 balls, while Salman registered his first T20I half-century in 30 balls.

Rotating the strike smartly and finding a boundary almost every over, the pair made sure there was no late drama, sealing a comprehensive win that keeps the series alive.