Babar, Imam star as Pakistan create history against Australia
LAHORE, APR 1: Captain Babar Azam and
Imam-ul-Haq hit tons as Pakistan chased their record ODI score at the Gaddafi
Stadium in Lahore.
Chasing a mammoth 349-run target,
the Men-in-Green were comfortably over the line with six wickets in hand.
The platform was set by openers
Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, who provided a brilliant 118-run stand. They
scored just over run a ball to keep the required run-rate within reach.
Their innings was a clear
indication that Pakistan learned from their mistakes, which they made in the
first ODI earlier this week.
After smashing seven boundaries
and two sixes for his 67 off 64 balls, Fakhar walked back to the dugout after
being undone by a beautiful delivery from Marcus Stoinis.
However, it didn’t stop
Imam-ul-Haq, who was joined by Babar at the crease, to score his second ton of
the three-match series on Thursday.
He became the first Pakistan
batter to score a back-to-back century against Australia. The left-hander
played some classical shots in his 106-run innings facing only 97 deliveries.
Imam struck six fours and three maximums.
The pair made a 111-run stand for
the second wicket of just 92 deliveries.
The Pakistan captain played a
crucial role in Pakistan’s record-shattering win. The prolific runs getter
looked in a sublime touch from the first ball he faced under the floodlights.
He answered the critics once
again with his scintillating batting, as he scored a record-breaking century at
his home ground. He scored 114 off 83 deliveries at an impressive strike-rate
of 139.02.
Babar struck 11 boundaries and a
six for his 15 ODI ton. He became the quickest ever to reach 15 ODI hundreds
(83 innings) three less than South Africa legend Hashim Amla (86 innings).
He was dismissed by Nathan Ellis.
Mohammad Rizwan played a cameo
off 23, while the finishing touches were provided by Khushdil Shah (27 not out)
and Iftikhar Ahmed (11 not out).
Pakistan crossed the winning line in 49 overs.
For Australia, Adam Zampa claimed
two wickets while Ellis and Stoinis picked up a wicket each for the winnings
side.
Earlier, Top-order batter Ben
McDermott and opener Travis Head starred as Australia set a mammoth 349-run
target after being asked to bat by Babar Azam.
The duo made a brilliant 162-run
stand for the second wicket after Australia captain Aaron Finch was removed on
a golden duck by Shaheen Shah Afridi in his first over at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Head continued his brilliant form
with the bat in the top order as he scored a quick 89 off just 70 deliveries.
The left-hander smashed six boundaries and five maximums.
Meanwhile, McDermott, who scored
his maiden ODI half-century against in the first ODI at the same venue,
continued to impress with the bat as he went on to score his maiden ton.
The right-hander walked back to
the dugout after scoring 104 off 108 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and
four maximums.
Marnus Labuschagne (59 off 49)
also went on to score his fourth ODI half-century. He was removed by Khushdil
Shah.
Marcus Stoinis, who struggled
with the bat in the first ODI, made good use of the opportunity as he went on
to score 49 off 33 balls to guide Australia to 348/7 in their allotted 50
overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the star
of the show with the ball as he claimed figures of four for 63 in his 10 over
spell. He was well supported by Mohammad Wasim Jr, who claimed two wickets for
56 runs.
The series is level at 1-1 with
the decided is set to be played on April 2 at the same venue.
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Courtesy samaaenglish.tv
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