Pakistan beat West Indies by 74 runs – 2nd ODI

GEORGETOWN, (CMC) – Pakistan defeated West Indies by 74 runs in the second One-Day International of the three-match series at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.
Pakistan scored 282 for five off 50 overs (Babar Azam 125 not out, Imad Wasim 43 not out, Mohammed Hafeez 32, Sarfraz Ahmed 26; Shannon Gabriel 2-50)
Meanwhile West Indies scraped 208 off 44.5 overs (Jason Holder 68, Ashley Nurse 44; Hasan Ali 5-38, Mohammad Hafeez 2-23)
Babar Azam struck his fifth One-Day International hundred and fourth in five matches against West Indies as Pakistan set the hosts another imposing run chase in the second game of the three-match series yesterday.
Sent in, the visitors tallied 282 for five off their 50 overs, with the right-handed Babar stroking a career-best unbeaten 125 off 132 deliveries at the Guyana National Stadium.
Imad Wasim came at the end to lash an unbeaten 43 off 35 balls, combining with Azam to plunder 84 runs off the last seven overs – in an 89-run, unbroken sixth wicket stand which gave the innings much needed impetus.
Mohammed Hafeez got 32 and captain Sarfraz Ahmed, 26, while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel led the bowlers with two for 50.
Still inspired from their record run chase in Friday’s opener, West Indies started strongly when they removed dangerous openers Ahmed Shezad (5) and Kamran Akmal (21) to leave Pakistan 44 for two in the ninth over.
Gabriel claimed Shezad to a smart leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Shai Hope while Joseph accounted for Akmal in identical fashion.
Azam then paced the innings nicely with three vital partnerships. He put on 69 for the third wicket with Hafeez, added 55 for the fifth with Safraz before his belter at the end with Imad.
All told, Azam struck seven fours and three sixes while the left-handed Imad blasted a pair of four and sixes.