Babar Azam’s incredibly patient and clutch knock in the fourth innings of the second Test was quite comfortably the highlight of the match.

With the game and the home team’s pride on the line, Babar came in to bat on Tuesday when the team was reeling at 21 for 2.

He formed an incredible 228-run partnership for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique but did not flinch even when the young’un departed a few short of his century today.

The skipper had completed his 100 the previous day and was closing in on his first-ever double century when he fell prey to Nathan Lyon on Wednesday. In all, he scored 196 off 425 balls, hit 21 boundaries and a solitary six.

His innings may have ended in a heartbreak but it took nothing away from his performance.

It was a day to remember for Babar, who played his best and most memorable knock in Pakistan colours — certainly in Tests and maybe even in all formats. Here is a full list of records he broke today:

Highest score by a Pakistani batter in fourth innings

Babar's 196 is the highest score by a Pakistani batsman in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Younis Khan held that record. He had scored a 107 against India in Kolkata in 2007. It means that Babar improved that record by an astonishing 89 runs.

Highest score by a captain in the fourth innings.

Babar's 196 is also the highest score by a captain of any nationality in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, the record was held by England's Mike Atheron, who had scored an unbeaten 185 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995.

Most balls consumed by a Pakistan batter in 4th innings

Babar Azam consumed 425 balls, which makes his knock the longest ever in the 4th innings by a Pakistani batter in Test cricket. The record was previously held by Shoaib Malik, who had consumed 369 balls in his knock of 148* against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2006.

Editorial

03 Aug, 2026

Farewell to arms?

PALESTINIAN resistance group Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons. It should be...
03 Aug, 2026

Unplanned future

A PROJECTION that Pakistan’s population could reach 400m by 2040 should not be treated as another dramatic number...
03 Aug, 2026

No more torture

EVEN the best laws on the books are worth little unless the state shows the willingness to enforce them. This is...
Updated 02 Aug, 2026

Urban flooding

THE warning from the disaster management and weather authorities that a new monsoon spell could trigger urban...
02 Aug, 2026

Fatal workplaces

THE methane explosion near Quetta that killed 34 coal miners is the latest entry in Pakistan’s long register of...
02 Aug, 2026

Dual standards

IT appears that the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has fallen foul of the Election Commission of Pakistan. A...