Hope’s ton in vain as Babar (103), Khushdil (41*) stun West Indies

Shai Hope drives towards the covers• Jun 07, 2022•AFP/Getty Images

The target didn’t hold much fear for Pakistan, at least while some combination of the ever-reliable top three were still out in the middle. When Jayden Seales forced Fakhar Zaman to flat-bat one to short point, it brought Imam and Babar together – two men who combined famously to chase down 349 against Australia.

The West Indies fast bowlers, though, kept things tight on a Multan surface that looked like it wasn’t allowing the ball to come on so easily in the evening, and for a while, it was all Pakistan could do to ensure they didn’t lose a cluster of wickets while waiting for batting to get easier.

 

While Babar took his time en route to his first 50 runs, Imam was brisker. After fortuitously surviving a marginal lbw call early on, he took on the charge of keeping the asking rate in check, finding regular boundaries and routinely turning the strike over. It took 56 balls for him to get to his half-century, by which time the asking rate was creeping to seven.

Khushdil Shah (left) played a big part in setting up a last-over win for Pakistan• Jun 07, 2022•AFP/Getty Images

Eventually, though, the wicket-taking threat that West Indies posed began to fade, and Babar was beginning to whir into action. By the time Akeal Hosein struck to remove Imam, Babar was in full flow, inexorably motoring along to his 17th ODI hundred.

Mohammad Rizwan, whose lack of form in this format has come under scrutiny – if only for the sharp contrast it presents compared to his T20 record – kept him company. Pakistan was building towards something of a cruise of a finish, with 72 required in nine overs with eight wickets still in hand. (ESPNcricinfo)