Babar Azam becomes the first to score 3 consecutive ODI tons twice

Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored a century in the first One-day International (ODI) of the three-match series against West Indies on June 8 (Wednesday) at Multan Cricket Stadium, also making it three centuries in the last three ODI outings. With his latest ton, Babar became the first batter in the history of the format to score three consecutive hundreds twice.

Babar’s 103 against West Indies came on the back of 114 and 105* against Australia in Lahore, which presented a series win of 2-1 over the Aussies. The Pakistani skipper earlier achieved the feat of scoring three tons in three ODI matches, back in 2016 against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 27-year-old has also scored over fifty runs in each of his last five innings, four of them being over a hundred runs.

Pakistan chased down 306 in the series opener.

Meanwhile, West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and elected to bat first. Their opening batter Shai Hope scored a mammoth hundred (127) which was very well complemented by their number three batter Sharmarh Brooks, who scored 70. Rovman Powell scored a quickfire 32 off 23 balls at number six, and a quick cameo from Romario Shepherd at number seven teed the innings off, setting up a total of 305.

Pacer Haris Rauf led Pakistan’s bowling lineup with four wickets, including the dismissal of centurion Hope, although he went for 77 runs in his 10 overs. Their ace fast bowler Shaheen Afridi picked up two wickets for 55 runs in his 10 overs, and leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowled tidy 10 overs conceding only 37 runs and bagging one wicket.

Pakistan’s batting line-up was led from the front by their skipper Babar at number three and was complemented by the opener Imam-ul-Haq with a knock of 65 runs. Their wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan scored a crucial 59 runs at number four. Khushdil Shah scored a blistering 41* off 23 balls at number five, earning the hosts the victory with four balls to spare.

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph finished with figures of 2/55 runs in 10 overs, and left-arm orthodox spinner Akeal Hosein got the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq, conceding 50 runs.