Azam stars as Pakistan takes winning lead

A strong batting performance led by Babar Azam's second successive century set up Pakistan's comprehensive 59-run win in the second One-Day International against West Indies in Sharjah on Sunday (October 2). The result meant Pakistan took a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Opting to bat, Pakistan posted a mammoth 337 for 5, courtesy Azam's brilliant 125-ball 123 and quick half-centuries from Shoaib Malik (90 off 84) and Sarfraz Ahmed (60* off 47). In reply, West Indies was restricted to 278 for 7 despite half-centuries from Darren Bravo (61) and Marlon Samuels (57).

Sharjeel Khan got Pakistan off to a flying start but West Indies struck back, dismissing him and Azhar Ali in the space of three balls within the first six overs. Those would be the last moments of celebration for West Indies for quite some time as Azam and Malik added 169 for the third wicket.

Azam, 21, followed his 120 in the first ODI with another well-paced knock studded with nine boundaries and a six. The experienced Malik remained busy, hitting six sixes and three fours as Pakistan made the West Indies bowlers toil on another flat surface.

Azam reached his second ODI hundred with a single off Carlos Brathwaite, waving his bat and bowing down in delight. He was finally caught off Alzarri Joseph, the debutant paceman, at long-on in the 46th over.

Malik was also ruthless as he reached his 38th half-century off 55 balls before hitting three successive sixes off Sulieman Benn, the left-arm spinner, one of which went out of the stadium.

The partnership was followed by another strong display from Sarfraz, who ensured Pakistan finished strongly. Sarfraz, who hit seven fours, helped Azam add another 73 for the fourth wicket as Pakistan amassed 97 in the last ten overs and 55 in the last five.

Mohammad Amir dismissed Johnson Charles in the second over of the chase but Kraigg Brathwaite and Bravo steadied the innings with a second-wicket partnership of 89. While Bravo played his strokes and kept West Indies moving, Kraigg took his own time before a mix-up ended his stay. He made a steady 39 but consumed as many as 66 balls.

Bravo, who was dropped on 43 by Azhar at mid-off off Mohammad Nawaz, reached his half-century with a massive six over long-on off the same bowler. But he too was run out by terrific work from Hasan Ali, the pacer swooping in on his follow-through and scoring a direct at the striker's end to catch Bravo short.

At that stage, West Indies needed 211 from 21.3 overs but still sent in Denesh Ramdin ahead of Kieron Pollard. Samuels kept its hopes alive by striking two sixes off Imad Wasim on his way to his half-century, but once he dragged Wahab Riaz onto his stumps, the writing was on the wall.

It was too much to do even for the likes of Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite, who became the third West Indian to be run out.

Pakistan won the first ODI by 111 runs on the DLS method. The third and final ODI will be played on October 5 in Abu Dhabi.