Pakistan's Babar Azam becomes third fastest to reach 5,000 runs in T20 cricket

Batsman crosses milestone during career-best 114 for Somerset in T20 Blast

Somerset's Pakistan batsman Babar Azam celebrates after reaching his century during the T20 Blast match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday. Getty

Babar Azam made a career-best 114 batting for Somerset against Glamorgan in the T20 Blast at Sophia Gardens. Getty

Babar Azam crossed the 5,000-run mark in T20 cricket on Wednesday. Getty

Babar Azam of Somerset celebrates after reaching his century at Sophia Gardens. Getty

Babar Azam became the third fastest batsman to reach 5,000 runs in T20 cricket. Getty

Babar Azam hit nine fours and five sixes during his century in the T20 Blast. Getty

Ruaidhri Smith of Glamorgan reacts as Babar Azam is dropped. Getty

Babar Azam of Somerset cuts the ball as Chris Cooke of Glamorgan looks on. Getty

Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 114 at the Sophia Gardens. Getty

Babar Azam of Somerset pulls the ball for four. Getty

Pakistan captain and star batsman Babar Azam broke a few records during his innings of 114 not out for Somerset in the T20 Blast.

Azam scored his runs off just 62 balls to help Somerset ease to a comfortable 66-run win over Glamorgan and improve their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

It was his highest score in T20 cricket. And during his innings, Azam crossed the milestone of 5,000 runs in the format. Azam became the third fastest to reach the mark – in 145 innings. Only West Indies T20 legend Chris Gayle (132 innings) and Australian Shaun Marsh (144) have taken fewer innings to score 5,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Somerset batted first and made 183-3 in their 20 overs, with Azam scoring a majority of the runs while opening the innings. He hit nine fours and five sixes during his knock after being dropped twice.

Glamorgan lost their first two wickets in nine balls and the match was as good as over when they collapsed to 62-6 at the halfway stage. They could only muster 117 in 15.5 overs at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Azam once again underlined his status as the premier T20 batsman in the world. The Pakistan star was recently overtaken by England Dawid Malan at the top of the ICC rankings for T20 batsmen.