Classy Babar tons up after dethroning Kohli

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has ended India counterpart Virat Kohli's more than three-year reign as the top ranked one-day batsman in the latest official rankings.

Babar's elegant strokemaking has often drawn comparisons with the prolific Kohli, who is considered a modern batting great across formats.

Babar led from the front in Pakistan's 2-1 ODI series victory in South Africa last week and snapped Kohli's 41-month stay atop the official rankings, the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.

The 26-year-old is the fourth Pakistan batsman to achieve the honour following in the footsteps of Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Mohammad Yousuf.

Captain Aaron Finch and opener David Warner are the only Australian batsmen in the top 10, coming in at fifth and ninth respectively.

Babar and Kohli are the only two batsmen in the top six in all three formats.

"This is another milestone in my career, which will now require even more hard work and absolute consistency with the bat in order for me to hold on to the ranking for an extended period of time," Babar said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"I have also previously topped the T20I rankings, but the ultimate ambition and goal is to lead the Test rankings."

Later on Wednesday, Babar hit a record-breaking 122 to lead Pakistan to an impressive nine-wicket victory over hosts South Africa at Centurion and a 2-1 lead in the four-match Twenty20 series.

Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 73 as he and Babar, whose century came off 49 balls, shared a record 197-run partnership in a devastating display that enabled the tourists to reel in South Africa's competitive 5-203 with consummate ease.

They won with two overs to spare after making 1-205, dispatching the home bowling to all corners of the ground.

Babar's record T20 score for Pakistan, including 15 fours and four sixes off 59 balls was an innings of finesse and guile rather than bludgeoning shots to underline his rare class.

Rizwan's knock may have been overshadowed by his skipper's but he was equally brilliant in a supporting role.

It was the second highest successful run chase in a T20 international at Centurion with a tiring Babar eventually out caught behind off the bowling of Lizaad Williams.

Janneman Malan and Aiden Markham shared a 108-run opening wicket partnership as South Africa got off to a flying start after being put into bat.

Markham made a half-century for a third successive game before being bowled for 63 while Malan scored 55.

The last match of the series - and of Pakistan's tour - will also be played at Centurion on Friday.

ICC ODI Batting rankings

1) Babar Azam (Pak)

2) Virat Kohli (Ind)

3) Rohit Sharma (Ind)

4) Ross Taylor (NZ)

5) Aaron Finch (Aus)

6) Jonny Bairstow (Eng)

=7) Fakhar Zaman (Pak)

=7) Faf du Plessis (SA)

9) David Warner (Aus)

10) Shai Hope (WI)

ICC ODI Bowling rankings

1) Trent Boult (NZ)

2) Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg)

3) Matt Henry (NZ)

4) Jasprit Bumrah (Ind)

5) Mehedi Hasan (Ban)

6) Kagiso Rabada (SA)

7) Chris Woakes (Eng)

8) Josh Hazlewood (Aus)

9) Pat Cummins (Aus)

10) Mohammad Amir