Pakistan vs West Indies: Babar Azam scored a century and Khushdil Shah played a fiery cameo as Pakistan chased down a target of 305 runs against West Indies in the first ODI in Multan.
After winning the toss, West Indies opted to bat first. Despite losing an early of Kyle Myers to Shaheen Afridi, Shai Hope and Shamrah Brooks ensured there was no wobble as they piled on the runs in the scorching Multan heat.
The two batters scored with ease, rotating strike and finding boundaries building a 154-run second wicket partnership. Brooks who looked steady was then dismissed for 70 runs in the 31st over with Shadab Khan taking a blinder of Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling.
However, Shai Hope continued to rack up runs at the other end, adding another 35 runs with captain Nicolas Pooran. ‘
Pooran pushed the scoring rate hitting 3 sixes in his brief stay before being caught out for 21 runs of Haris Rauf.
Pakistan managed to claw back into the innings and despite bowlers not being economical they kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
Shai Hope scored a solid century, making 127 runs before Haris Rauf plucked his wicket in the 44th over.
Romario Shephard’s 25-run cameo eventually taking West Indies to 305 in 50 overs.
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The reply from Pakistan began cautiously with the pitch acting slow. Fakhar Zaman was out for just 11 in the 7 over with the score being 26.
From then on, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq as they did in the Australia series steadied the ship. The duo picked their moments playing risk free cricket to keep Pakistan in the chase.
Imam scored yet another 50 to continue his recent good form and Babar looked as impressive as ever.
Akeal Hossian then gave visitors the breakthrough getting rid of Imam, who tried to reverse sweep the spinner, departing for 65 runs having build a 103 run stand.
It was now the turn of Mohammad Rizwan and Azam to continue the chase. Babar looked at ease while he was ably supported by Rizwan as the pair scored at a brisk rate.
Babar Azam reached his 17th ODI century but departed soon after on 103. At 237/3 in 42 overs, the hosts just needed 69 off 48 balls.
But when Rizwan got out after scoring a half century off Romario Shephard, it brought undue pressure.
Khushil Shah then took matters into his own hands. With the asking rate rising, Khushdil clobbered Shephard for 3 sixes of 3 balls turn the game around entirely.
Having started the over needing 44 off 24, Khushdil’s hitting saw them end it needing 24 off 18.
Khushdil hit another huge six in the 49th over before Mohammad Nawaz finished off the chase with another six to put Pakistan 1-0 up in the 3-match ODI series.
Brief Scores:
West Indies 305/8 in 50 overs (Shai Hope 127, Shamarh Brooks 70; Haris Rauf 4-77, Shaheen Afridi 2-55)
Pakistan 306/5 in 49.2 overs (Babar Azam 103, Imam ul Haq 65; Alzarri Joseph 2-55).