LAHORE: Pakistani skipper Babar Azam scored a century off 74 balls and Imam-ul-Haq scored a ton as Pakistan overcame a mammoth total to win the second ODI against Australia by six wickets.
Babar Azam once again registered his name in the record books when he became the quickest batsman in the world to reach his 15th ODI hundred. Babar smashed a century during the second ODI against Australia in Lahore to surpass South Africa’s Hashim Amla in the list of taking the fewest innings to score 15 ODI hundreds.
The flamboyant cricket scored 114 runs off 83 balls. He was joined by opening batter Imam ul Haq who scored 106 runs from 97 balls. He was eventually dismissed by Adam Zampa before Babar Azam took control of the innings. Khushdil Adil and Iftikhar held nerves to hand Pakistan the win with six balls to spare.
Australian batter Ben McDermott starred with a magnificent century, while Travis Head and Marnus Labuchagne scored half-centuries to bolster Australia to 348/8 in the first innings of the second ODI against Pakistan.
Pakistan chase 348 in full fashion! Many remarkable performances as we finally enter into winning mode. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/5EN9UI4nk1
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 31, 2022
Australia’s huge innings was setup by McDermott’s 162-run second-wicket partnership with Travis Head, who made 89 off 70 balls After being put in to bat by the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam, the touring side lost skipper Aaron Finch for a golden duck in the first over by left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Australia’s top-order batter McDermott, alongside Head, then anchored the innings and added 162 runs for the second wicket. Both scored half-centuries but Head fell 11 runs short of his second consecutive century. The left-handed opener scored 89 off 70 balls with the help of six boundaries and five sixes.
McDermott, on the other hand, kept going and went on to smash his maiden ODI century. The right-handed batter put on an 64-runs partnership with Labuschagne before making his way back to the pavilion.
He top-scored for the side with 104 off 108 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries and four sixes. Labuschagne, on the other hand, perished in the 41st over after scoring 59. Following his departure, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott also chipped in with 49 and 28 respectively to take their side to 348/8 in 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen led the way with four wickets, while Mohammad Wasim Jr picked two. Zahid Mahmood and Khushdil Shah, on the other hand, managed one scalp each.
