NEW DELHI: After surpassing Rohit Sharma as the leading run-getter in T20Is, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam added another record to his name with a 68-run knock against South Africa in the third T20I, helping his team seal the series 2-1.

With this match-winning innings, Babar set a new benchmark for consistency in T20Is, claiming the record for the most fifty-plus scores - 40 in total (37 fifties and 3 centuries) - going past Virat Kohli's tally of 39 (38 fifties and 1 century).

Pakistan chased down South Africa's target with composure, reaching 140 for 6 in 19 overs, thanks to Babar's fluent 68 off 46 balls. Earlier, South Africa once again struggled with the bat, posting 139 for 9 after being put in to bat for the third consecutive time in the series, falling short for the second straight match.

Babar was out for duck in the first match, but overtook Rohit Sharma's record for most runs in T20s when he made 11 not out in the second match.

Babar started off cautiously against the left-arm spin of George Linde, but grew in confidence against the pace with bowlers finding it difficult to hit the right lengths with the wet ball because of heavy dew.

He brought the capacity crowd of over 32,000 on their feet at the Gaddafi Stadium when he reached his fifty with three successive boundaries against fast bowler Ottneil Baartman.

"This innings was long due," Babar said. "I backed myself, the team believed in me. I was hoping for such a knock. It is about how you absorb pressure. I wanted to do what the team needed, play according to the situation."