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IPL 2023: Punjab Kings' Sikandar Raza makes Zimbabwe proud, Twitter celebrates Pakistan-born cricketer

IPL 2023: Punjab Kings (PBKS) all-rounder Sikandar Raza on Saturday became the first player from Zimbabwe to score a fifty in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Raza achieved the feat with a fighting 41-ball 57-run knock against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium.

The 36-year-old Pakistan-born cricketer played a sheet anchor role for Punjab who were three down for 45 in six overs while chasing a 160-run target. Raza was batting on 13 off 17 at one stage but shifted gears once he stepped out and slammed a six down the ground off Krishnappa Gowtham.

sikandar-raza-pbks-vs-lsg-first-zimbabwe-batter-ipl-fifty

The next over saw him hit two consecutive sixes off Krunal Pandya. He followed the two maximums with a boundary. He soon completed his fifty off 34 balls. He stitched a crucial 30 and 37-run partnerships with Harpreet Brar and Sam Curran.

The right-hander was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi on the fifth ball of the fifth over. Raza was caught by Stoinis at deep backward square leg after attempting a slog sweep for maximum.

Twenty runs were needed off the 12 balls after the departure of Raza. Punjab chased down the target on the back of a 10-ball 23 by Shahrukh Khan.

Earlier in the match, Raza also trapped Deepak Hooda in front of the stumps with his left-arm spin bowling. LSG were restricted to 159/8 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Raza has so far scored 79 runs and picked two wickets for Punjab Kings in the IPL 2023 season.

Here's how fans celebrated the gutsy knock from the Zimbabwe star.






Story first published: Saturday, April 15, 2023, 23:51 [IST]
Other articles published on Apr 15, 2023