PAK vs WI: Babar Azam Sets Another Colossal Record With The Bat In International Cricket

Pakistan captain Babar Azam once again etched his name in the record books during the second One-Day International game against West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday (June 10).

After opting to bat first, Pakistan lost opener, Fakhar Zaman, early in the innings but Babar and Imam-ul-Haq kept them in a stronger position at the halfway mark. The duo posted back-to-back 100-plus stands for the second wicket, they stitched a 120-run stand in the second ODI before Imam was run out on 72 by the collective efforts of Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope.

Babar Azam scored his ninth 50-plus score in all formats for Pakistan

Babar took his time to settle at the crease, but once the Pakistan captain found his momentum with the bat, he registered his sixth straight fifty-plus score in ODI cricket. Babar scored 77 off 93 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six. He missed his fourth straight hundred in ODI cricket as he returned a catch to Akeal Hosein in the 36th over.

Pakistan finished at 275/8 in the first innings as Babar brought up his ninth consecutive 50-plus score in international cricket and recorded the longest streak for any batter at this level. Babar’s sublime form started with the gritty 196 against Australia in the Karachi Test that helped Pakistan salvage a draw.

Babar scored 67 and 55 in the final Test of the series in Lahore but Pakistan lost 0-1. He finished second-most run-getter in the three-match ODI series with the scores – 57, 114 & 105* – behind Imam (298). The Pakistan captain hit 66 in 46 balls in the solitary T20I game of the month-long tour against Australia.

Babar Azam surpassed Virat Kohli as the fastest captain to score 1000 ODI runs

Babar made 103 in the first ODI against West Indies, where he also became the fastest captain to amass 1000 ODI runs in 13 innings, surpassing Virat Kohli’s record of 17 innings.

Pakistan eventually won the second ODI by 120 runs as the visitors faltered in the chase and were bowled out for 155 in 32.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (4/19) and pace bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr (3/34) led the bowling charts for Pakistan while defending the competitive score.

Leg-spinner Shadab Khan chipped in with a couple of wickets and Shaheen Afridi dismissed the previous game’s centurion Shai Hope upfront in the chase as Pakistan won by 120 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Also Read: PAK vs WI: Babar Azam Fields With Wicketkeeper’s Glove; Pakistan Face Five-Run Penalty