SHARJAH: Pakistan set West Indies a challenging total of 338 runs to chase while batting first after winning the toss in Sharjah on the back of a second consecutive hundred by young Babar Azam in the second ODI.
Azam scored 123 runs in 126 balls during which he hit nine fours and one six. Shoaib Mailk also played a brilliant knock of 90 off 84 balls.
Pakistan lost its both openers at the score of 40. Sharjeel Khan scored a quick 24 off 12 balls while captain Azhar Ali once against failed as he could score only eight off 18 balls.
Pakistan wicket keeper batsman and T-20 captain Sarfaraz Ahmed scored a rapid 60 runs off 47 balls not out.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali chose to bat again on a slow Sharjah surface against West Indies after winning the toss.
Pakistan went in with the same XI that came out trumps by 111 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first ODI on Friday.
“The surface is good, it will take the batsmen some time to settle, but there are plenty of runs on offer,” Azhar said at the toss. “The ball will keep low and may not turn much later which will make batting later on difficult.”
West Indies were “forced into a change” with Shannon Gabriel pulling up with a sore neck. Fast bowler Zlzarri Joseph, who had played a Test against India last month, was brought in for his ODI debut as like-for-like replacement. West Indies chose to stick with the same batting order despite their abject performance in the series opener.
“In the last game, there were a few boundaries on the first and last balls, so we need to control that,” West Indies captain Jason Holder said. “We need to be a little bit more assertive and show more intent. It is up to each and every individual to work with their game plans.”
Teams:
Pakistan: 1 Azhar Ali (capt), 2 Sharjeel Khan, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Hasan Ali
West Indies: 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Carlos Brathwaite, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Alzarri Joseph
