Haris joins Pakistan’s 200-wicket club

LAHORE: Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf achieved a significant milestone during the third T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, becoming the 24th player in Pakistan cricket history to claim 200 international wickets.

The right-arm pacer reached the landmark in a must-win game for Pakistan, delivering a stellar performance to keep the series alive. Rauf’s 200th wicket came in the penultimate over when he dismissed New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell. He followed it up by removing Ish Sodhi in the same over, finishing with impressive figures of 3/29 in his four-over spell. Earlier in the match, he had also dismissed Tim Seifert.

Since making his international debut in 2020, Haris Rauf has been a key figure in Pakistan’s pace attack in white-ball cricket. In December last year, he became Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, surpassing Shadab Khan’s tally of 107 wickets. Rauf now boasts 115 wickets in 81 T20I matches, alongside 85 wickets in 48 ODIs and one wicket in his solitary Test appearance.

With the series now at 2-1, Pakistan will look to level the five-match contest in the fourth T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Sunday (tomorrow).