Pakistan and West Indies are playing a rescheduled three-match ODI series. The first match of the series ended in the favour of the home team. Chasing a big target of 305 runs, the host went on the attack from ball one and chased it down with four balls to spare in the end.
And the anchor of the chase was none other than the Pakistani skipper, Babar Azam, who scored yet another century in the match to keep the team in the chase. In the end, some lusty blows from Khushdil Shah (41* off 23) sealed the deal for Pakistan.
West Indies made 305/8 in their first innings courtesy of a century by Shai Hope. He scored 127 off 134. Shamarh Brooks also scored 70 runs off 83 balls. The host came out for a chase and lost the wicket of Fakhar Zaman (11) early, but then Imam-ul-Haq (66) and Babar added 103 runs for the second wicket.
Then the skipper and wicket-keeper batsman, Mohammad Rizwan, added another 108 runs for the third wicket. Babar (103) got out after scoring his century, and Rizwan (59) also followed him.
Babar Azam break the record of Virat Kohli
This was the third century for the Pakistani skipper on the trot. He scored 103 runs off 107 balls, including nine fours. He also scored 114 and 105* in the second and third ODIs against Australia in the last series, respectively. With this, Babar became the only batter in the history of the game to score three back-to-back centuries two times.
He did it already in 2016, when he smashed 120, 123, and 117. This was also the 17th century for the skipper in just 87 games. He has made another record and became the fastest player to score 17 ODI centuries.
On the other hand, as an ODI captain, Babar Azam has scored 1000 runs in just his 13th innings. He broke the record of Virat Kohli, who took 17 innings to complete 1000 runs as a skipper. Babar also surpassed the former South African skipper, AB de Villiers (20 innings) and Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson (23 innings).