Perseverance the key, says centurion Azam

Pakistan’s first-ODI hero instrumental in hosts’ 111-run win over West Indies

SHARJAH: Babar Azam, who hit his maiden ODI century in Pakistan’s heartening 111-run win over the West Indies in the first one-day international, said his contribution was a result of his responsible batting and the belief that he had to play a big part for his side.

Azam’s rapid-fire 139-ball 120 helped Pakistan post a challenging 284-9 in a match reduced to 49 overs a side due to a 70-minute floodlight failure at the Sharjah Stadium in the UAE.

“What I did was just to stay till the end and get as many runs as I could; the coach had asked me to play my natural game,” said Azam.

West Indies — set 287 to win — never got close and folded at 175 in 38.4 overs.

The victory gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, building on their 3-0 whitewash in the T20I series.



Like in the T20Is, the West Indian batsmen had little clue against Pakistan’s spin bowling, with only Marlon Samuels (46) and Johnson Charles (20) offering any resistance.

Mohammad Nawaz steamed through the batting with figures of 4-42 in his ten overs, easily his best bowling figures in his sixth ODI.

Nawaz had Darren Bravo (12), Denesh Ramdin (eight), Kieron Pollard (nine) and Carlos Brathwaite (15) out in an incisive spell of spin bowling to rock the West Indies.

Samuels hit two sixes and a four in his 59-ball fight but was finally bowled by fast bowler Wahab Riaz in the 34th over.

Sunil Narine (23) and Sulieman Benn (16 not out) added 31 for the ninth wicket but it was too little, too late and medium pacer Hasan Ali ended the innings with figures of 3-14.



Holder blames poor batting for loss

West Indian captain Jason Holder blamed poor batting for his side’s demise.

“We didn’t bat well, especially against spin,” said Holder. “We have to adjust and improve quickly.”

Red-hot Azam added 82 for the second wicket with Sharjeel Khan (54) and 99 for the fourth wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (35) after Pakistan were sent into bat on a flat pitch.

Pakistan were 260-6 after 44.3 overs when a floodlight failure stopped play for over an hour.



Azam hit eight boundaries and three sixes in a commanding knock before he was smartly caught one-handed by Pollard at long-on boundary, lobbing the ball inside as he was going over the ropes to complete a stunning catch.

Sharjeel hit six boundaries and three sixes in an aggressive 43-ball knock before miscuing a drive off spinner Benn and was caught at short third man.

Imad Wasim (24) and Nawaz (19) gave the final touches as Pakistan added 24 more runs after the delay.

Paceman Brathwaite was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3-54.

The second match will also be played in Sharjah today, while the third will take place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2016.

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