Babar’s milestone and scare

Babar Azam left Karachi with a record and a scare on April 11: he became the first batter to cross 4,000 Pakistan Super League runs, then was dropped by a bouncer that struck his neck area. (gulfnews.com) (abplive.com) Peshawar Zalmi still routed Lahore Qalandars by 76 runs in Match 19 at National Bank Stadium, Karachi, after posting 201 for 6 and bowling Lahore out for 125 in 16.2 overs. (outlookindia.com) Babar made 43 from 40 balls with three fours and one six, and the landmark innings lifted him to 4,004 Pakistan Super League runs. Kusal Mendis top-scored for Zalmi with 74, and the pair added 109 runs after Mohammad Haris fell early. (gulfnews.com) (sports.yahoo.com) The blow came from Lahore quick Ubaid Shah in the sixth over, when a short ball climbed into Babar’s shoulder-and-neck area and sent him to the ground. Play paused while the physio checked him, and he resumed after treatment. (abplive.com) (sportstiger.com) The record matters in a league that began in 2016 and has changed teams, venues and schedules repeatedly. Babar now sits alone at the top of the tournament’s career run chart, ahead of Lahore opener Fakhar Zaman and Multan captain Mohammad Rizwan. (geo.tv) The win mattered in the table too. Outlook India reported that the result sent Peshawar Zalmi to the top of the standings, preserving their unbeaten run in this season’s competition. (outlookindia.com) Lahore’s chase never settled. Sikandar Raza made 52, but Alzarri Joseph took 3 for 15 and Luke Wood took 2 for 25 as Zalmi closed out a one-sided game. (outlookindia.com) (cricketworld.com) So the same innings now sits in two columns at once: 4,004 career runs for Babar, and one replayed bouncer that briefly stopped the match before he carried on. (geo.tv) (abplive.com)