Daily Times

Babar Azam played yet another scintillating innings against West Indies as Pakistan were able to defend a respectable total of 282 for the loss of five scalps in the second one-day international in Guyana, Georgetown on Sunday. With his dazzling knock of 125, his fifth century in ODIs and fourth in five innings against the Caribbean side, Babar has cemented his place as a dependable batsman who can fill the vacuum of veterans Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan who are retiring after the Test series against West Indies. Babar, a cousin of Akmal brothers, is a very talented batsman whose consistency at Under-19 level pushed the selectors to give him a chance to play for the national side. And since his debut, he has come up to the expectations of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Known for his discipline and level-headed attitude, Babar laid claim to a long-term spot in Pakistan’s batting line-up with a strong performance in 2016, making three consecutive ODI hundreds against West Indies in the United Arab Emirates, and a 90 in his third Test, in Hamilton, New Zealand.

In the second contest of the three-match series, Babar held a faltering innings together when it threatened to disintegrate, and provided the late fireworks when it looked like it might stagnate. A two-paced surface made batting challenging, as did a much-improved bowling performance from the hosts. But Babar accelerated towards his ton by overcoming the attack with superb play. He received brilliant support from all-rounder Imad Wasim, who made unbeaten 43. The duo shared an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 99. Babar smashed three sixes and stroked seven boundaries in his knock off 132 deliveries, taking his total career runs to 1306 in first 25 ODI innings, a world record of most runs after first 25 innings of career, surpassing England’s Jonathan Trott. A momentum shift in the last 10 overs of Pakistan’s innings changed the entire scenario of the game, which left West Indies with 50 runs more than what they had aimed to chase. Pakistan piled up 94 runs in the last 10 overs to surge to 282.

The Pakistan bowlers were able to defend the relatively modest target through accurate, penetrating stuff, especially in the first 25 overs. But in almost a replay of the first match when the Caribbeans came from behind to score a famous win, their lower order gave the visitors a fright, adding over 133 runs for the last four wickets. Jason Holder, leading the side in the absence of Carlos Brathwaite, led the charge with a defiant, swashbuckling half-century.

Hassan Ali was the chief wicket taker for Pakistan with a haul of five for 38 runs. He was the one who ripped through the hosts’ batting line-up, dismissing Shai Hope and Kieran Powell in quick succession; ended Ashley Nurse’s spirited resistance, got rid of Alzarri Joseph to end a 52-run ninth-wicket partnership, and also accounted for Holder. In a strange departure from the approach that had been so successful for the home side in the first game, West Indies failed to emulate that performance and kept losing wickets playing rash shots, and before one knew it, they had slipped to 56 for 5, and the game was effectively over as a contest. After that, it was left to Pakistan’s bowlers to finish the job. This clinical bowling performance ensured Pakistan eased to a 74-run win to level the three-match series.

With his brilliant performance, Babar has joined the elite list of players scoring most ODI centuries against the former world champions. India’s Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa’s Kallis have also scored four centuries each against West Indies. South African trio of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Herchelle Gibbs are joint leaders of the list with five centuries each against West Indies in ODIs. No other Pakistan batsman has scored more than two ODI centuries against West Indies. Mohammad Yousaf, Ramiz Raja and Saeed Anwar have scored in three figures against West Indies only twice in their careers. Babar earlier entered the record books to join batting stalwarts like Viv Richards, Quinton de Kock, Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott in the list of quickest to 1000 runs in ODIs, they all reached the thousand runs milestone in 21st innings.