Record-breaking Babar secures Pakistan whitewash
A record-breaking knock from Babar Azam lifted Pakistan to a 136-run victory in Abu Dhabi and a whitewash in their three-match one-day international series against West Indies.
Babar notched 120 and 123 in the first and second ODIs respectively, and he racked up another 117 off 106 deliveries on Wednesday to take his total to 360 – more than any other batsman has managed in a series of three or fewer 50-over matches.
His 147-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Azhar Ali (101), who bounced back from scoring just nine runs in the first two matches, set a formidable target of 309.
And the Windies were unable to save face with Denesh Ramdin top-scoring with 37 as they fell to a second clean sweep of the tour after being skittled for 172.
3-0! Pakistan repeat the series whitewash of the T20I series with a massive 136 run win over the West Indies in Abu Dhabi #PakvWI pic.twitter.com/F0lHLzemeJ
— ICC (@ICC) October 5, 2016
The tourists will hope to step up their performances ahead of a gruelling Test series which starts in Dubai a week on Thursday.
Azhar and Sharjeel Khan (38) started strongly, and any relief the Windies had from seeing the latter caught off Sulieman Benn (1-51) at long-on was short-lived, with Babar entering the fray and quickly settling into a steady routine with his captain.
Every gap in the field appeared simple for Babar to spot as he surged through the gears, but his skipper was eventually undone by a slow ball from Jason Holder (1-63).
Pakistan lost Shoaib Malik for five but Babar was unperturbed, celebrating becoming the third batsman from his country to score hundreds in three successive ODI innings by dropping to his knees.
Three in a row! @babarazam258 gets his 3rd ODI century in as many matches! Absolutely sensational! https://t.co/sm3lxOtgO4 #PakvWI pic.twitter.com/9I8QcTH1Bu
— ICC (@ICC) October 5, 2016
Kieron Pollard (1-19) finally brought the curtain down on the youngster’s phenomenal knock for his 50th ODI wicket before Alzarri Joseph (2-62) removed Mohammad Rizwan (4) and Imad Wasim (4) in the latter stages.
Sohail Khan (1-34) replaced Mohammed Amir in the Pakistan XI and the move quickly paid off as the paceman made the breakthrough with the removal of Evin Lewis (22) in the 10th over.
Kraigg Brathwaite (32) reached the boundary three times before being trapped leg before by Shoaib (1-23), and when Darren Bravo (17) and Marlon Samuels (13) soon followed the Windies were 93-4 in the 23rd over.
Mohammad Nawaz accounted for Pollard (11) before claiming the scalps of Sunil Narine and Benn in the same over, while Wahab Riaz removed Joseph (2) for his 100th ODI wicket.
Pakistan rounded off a brilliant display when Rizwan capitalised on a miscommunication between Ramdin and Shannon Gabriel to run the keeper out as the Windies’ meek reply concluded in fitting fashion.
