Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam faced a setback in his debut Big Bash League 15 (BBL) season. He was dismissed for a duck in the Sydney Sixers’ qualifier match against Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 148, the Sixers lost Babar Azam early in the innings. He was stumped by Josh Inglis off Cooper Connolly’s bowling on the second delivery of the first over. His early dismissal put immediate pressure on the Sixers’ batting lineup.
This season, Babar Azam has played 11 BBL matches, scoring 202 runs at an average of 22.44. His strike rate stands at 103.06, including two half-centuries. Despite his earlier contributions, this duck marked a disappointing moment in his campaign.
Earlier, the Perth Scorchers posted 147-9 in their 20 overs. They struggled to build momentum after early setbacks. Mitchell Marsh fell for just five runs in the first over, caught by Josh Starc.
Middle-order batters Finn Allen and Aaron Hardie stabilized the innings. Their partnership helped Perth cross the 50-run mark before Starc dismissed Allen for 49 off 30 balls. Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly fell cheaply for two and eight, dismissed by Joel Davies and Ben Manenti.
Skipper Ashton Turner added 29 runs off 21 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, but the team could not accelerate the innings further. Lower-order batsmen, including Jhye Richardson, contributed modestly, with Richardson scoring 20 off 18 balls.
For the Sydney Sixers, Josh Starc, Jack Edwards, and Ben Dwarshuis took two wickets each. Joel Davies and Ben Manenti added one wicket apiece, helping the Sixers restrict Perth to a below-par total.
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The early dismissal of Babar Azam proved costly for Sydney Sixers, highlighting the challenges the team faces in crucial knockout matches. Fans hope the star batter will bounce back in the next fixtures.
