ENG vs PAK: Pakistan Captain Babar Azam Stars With 158 Against England In 3rd ODI

Cricket Image for ENG vs PAK: Pakistan Captain Babar Azam Stars With 158 Against England In 3rd ODI (Image Source: AFP)

Pakistan captain Babar Azam returned to form with a brilliant 158, his highest one-day international score, as the tourists tried to deny England a series sweep at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Azam's 14th century in 83 matches at this level was the centrepiece of Pakistan's 331-9 after they lost the toss. Together with Mohammad Rizwan (74) he shared a stand of 179 -- Pakistan's highest for any wicket in an ODI against England - after adding with opener Imam-ul-Haq (56).

Azam's innings was also the highest individual score in a 50-over ODI at Edgbaston with New Zealand's Glenn Turner, scoring 171 in a 60-over World Cup match against East Africa in 1975 and England's Robin Smith making 167 against Australia in a 55-over match in 1993.

Fast bowler Brydon Carse dismissed both Azam and Rizwan before collecting some late wickets as Pakistan hit out for a return of 5-61. Azam, the world's top-ranked ODI batsman, had been dismissed for nought and 19 by fast bowler Saqib Mahmood as England -- who had to change their entire squad for this three-match following a Covid-19 outbreak within their camp - went 2-0 up with commanding nine-wicket and 52-run wins at Cardiff and Lord's respectively.

Pakistan were in the runs from the first ball, with Imam clipping Mahmood off his pads for four, after managing just one run in total in the first two games. Mahmood, however, had Pakistan's other left-handed opener, Fakhar Zaman well caught above his head by a leaping Zak Crawley at second slip for just six.

Read More