In the second One-day International, Pakistan eased past by 74 runs against the West Indies on Sunday at the Providence Stadium in Guyana after Hasan Ali bagged five-fer and top-order batsman Babar Azam smashed his career best of unbeaten 125* to level the three-match series 1-1 with one to go on Thursday (April 12) in Guyana.
After first 25 innings, Azam (1,306 runs) tops the list of batsman to score most runs in ODIs; surpassing Jonathan Trott, who had scored 1,280 runs in same number of innings he played for England.
Azam has a staggering average against the West Indies as he amassed 498 runs in five innings following whooping average of 124.50 which has also been stated as highest by any batsman against any single opposition.
While chasing the target of 283, the host batsmen started their innings with positive intent, but they lost wickets at regular intervals before the West Indies skipper Jason Holder put on a lone-hand to score 68 off 87 balls.
Following the improved performance with the ball from visitors on a two-paced surface, the hosts were bundled out for 208 in 44.5 overs despite a cameo from Ashley Nurse as the home side saw only fifty during their innings in the form of Holder, who played some brilliant shots.
At one stage, hosts were reduced to 56 for five when Ashley Nurse and Holder put on 58-runs for the seventh wicket to provide some entertainment to the home crowd. Their innings was laced with six boundaries and one six each before Hasan Ali completed his five-wicket haul in 8.5 overs; conceding 38 runs.
Apart from Ali, Mohammad Hafeez claimed two wickets followed by Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan, who picked wicket apiece.
Jason Mohammed (1 off 16 balls), who looked out of sorts, was last match hero for the West Indies. In 14th over, the right-handed batsman Mohammed dismissed cheaply by Mohammed Hafeez when Sarfraz Ahmed completed the brilliant catch.
It’s pertinent to mention both unpredictable sides are wrestling it out to improve their ICC ODI ranking in a bid to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup which is scheduled in England.
Earlier, after winning the toss Jason Holder opted to field first against Sarfraz Ahmed-led side, who made a one change by bringing in Junaid Khan while replacing Wahab Riaz.
In last seven overs, Pakistan posted 84 runs on board which saw late blitz from Imad Wasim (43 off 35 balls) and Azam himself.
For the sixth wicket, Azam and Wasim put on a 99-run partnership to post the decent total on board after they were struggling at one stage to go past even 250.
It was Azam at number three, who occupied the crease till the end. His knock on 132 balls was laced with three sixes and seven boundaries as he completed his fifth overall hundred and fourth against the West Indies.
Hafeez chipped in with 32 off 50 balls and Sarfraz scored run-a-ball 26 runs after they lost Kamran Akmal on 21 off 27 balls and Ahmed Shehzad on 5 off 15 deliveries. Shoaib Malik struggled with the bat and was able to score just 9 off 17 balls.
For the hosts, the fast bowler Shanon Gabriel picked two wickets followed by Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo and Alzzari Jospeh who bagged one wicket each.