Babar becomes highest T20 run-scorer as Pakistan hammers South Africa

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Babar Azam broke Rohit Sharma's record for most runs in men's Twenty20s as Pakistan hammered South Africa by nine wickets and leveled their series on Friday.

Saim Ayub returned to form with a belligerent unbeaten 71 off 38 balls as Pakistan raced to 112-1 in just 13.1 overs after bowling out South Africa for 110. Fast bowlers Salman Mirza and Faheem Ashraf shared seven wickets.

The third and deciding T20 is on Saturday.

“They outplayed us in the previous game and we did that today,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said. “It’s beautifully set up now and hopefully we’ll have a cracker in the final. We bowled really well up front and when you bowl that well you’re always going to win the game."

Babar needed nine runs to pass Sharma's record of 4,231 runs and finished 11 not out. He took the Indian batter’s record when he drove spinner Donovan Ferreira for a single to long-off.

Pakistan recalled Babar for his first T20s in almost a year after Fakhar Zaman was rested. Babar missed the chance in the first match to set the record when he was dismissed for a two-ball duck at Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Babar has 4,234 runs in 130 T20s, including 36 half-centuries and three centuries. His strike rate of 129 has often been criticized. He missed the Asia Cup in which Pakistan was beaten by India.

Sharma played 159 T20s but quit international cricket's shortest format after leading India to the T20 World Cup title last year.

Ayub had a horror Asia Cup where he had four ducks and struggled again on Tuesday when he was dropped on zero before South Africa romped to a 55-run win.

But Pakistan persisted with the left-handed opener who finally showed his brilliant power-hitting by smashing his fifth T20 half-century with five sixes and six boundaries. Ayub hit the winning runs with his last six off Ferreira over wide mid-on.

"Saim is someone who can play for the next 10 years and become the player we all want him to be,” Agha said.

Playing Mirza for the rested Shaheen Shah Afridi brought Pakistan immediate success as the left-armer deceived the South Africa top order with his variations.

Reeza Hendricks, who hit a half-century in the first match, was bowled for a two-ball duck by a Mirza delivery that nipped back in sharply.

Quinton de Kock was deceived by Naseem Shah’s slower ball and he holed out to mid-off.

Mirza dropped a sitter from Matthew Breetzke at gully off Shah but made amends when he hit the top of Breetzke’s off stump with another slower ball.

Tony de Zorzi top-edged Mirza's short ball to short fine leg and South Africa slipped to 23-4 inside the powerplay and couldn't recover. Mirza took 3-14 Ashraf mopped up with a career-best 4-23.

“There isn’t much time to reflect,” said Ferreira, leading the Proteas in the absence of the injured David Miller. "The wicket got a lot better with the dew settling. You just have to move on.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf, center, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of South Africa's Ottneil Baartman during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Salman Mirza bowls during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub plays a shot during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Babar Azam bats during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

DETROIT (AP) — Claressa Shields won a lopsided unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to successfully defend her undisputed heavyweight championship at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night.

Shields, fighting at home, improved to 18-0 (2 KOs), winning 100-90 on all three cards. Crews-Dezurn, who holds a super-middleweight title, fell to 10-3.

“I had to take my time tonight,” Shields said. “That's one of the toughest fights I've been in during my pro career. She hits hard these days.”

The fight was a rematch of Shields’ four-round unanimous-decision victory Nov. 19, 2016 in the pro debuts for both fighters, and hard feelings were obvious when a brawl broke out at Saturday’s weigh-in. Crews-Dezurn saw a doctor Sunday morning to check knee and ankle injuries, but was able to fight.

The emotion carried over to the first round, which saw both fighters throwing hard flurries. Shields, though, took control early with her superior hand speed.

The fighters had a lengthy face-to-face conversation after the final bell, but embraced at the end.

For Shields, it was the first bout of the $8 million, multi-fight deal she landed last month and drew a large crowd to Little Caesars Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons.

The co-main event between light heavyweights Atif Olberlton (14-0) and Joseph George (13-2) was stopped after one round when George collapsed in his corner. He received treatment from paramedics, but was able to leave the ring under his own power.

On the undercard, American light-heavyweight Danielle Perkins (6-1) upset Australian Che Kenneally (5-1) with a sixth-round knockout to win the WBA light-heavyweight title.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Trainers check on Joe George Jr. after he collapsed in his corner after the first round of his light heavyweight boxing match against Atif Oberlton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields, right, exchanges words with Franchon Crews-Dezurn after their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields, right, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn square off in the eighth round of their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields celebrates her win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields, left, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn square off in the eighth round of their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields enters the arena for her Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match against Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields, right, hits Franchon Cruz-Dezurn with a right in the first round of their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields enters the arena for her Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match against Franchon Cruz-Dezurn, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Claressa Shields, left, hits Franchon Cruz-Dezurn with a left in the first round of their Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship boxing match, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Trainers check on Joe George Jr. after he collapsed in his corner after the first round of his light heavyweight boxing match against Atif Oberlton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)