England won the three-match ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODI series against Pakistan 3-0 by recording a three-wicket win in the third and final match which turned out to be a high scoring thriller at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday.
After being put in to bat, Babar Azam smashed a scintillating 158 off 139 balls (14 fours, four sixes) to propel his side to their 331 for nine total. Babar’s epic innings was the highest score by a Pakistan captain in ODI cricket, the right-hander posted the 14th century of his ODI career (second against England) and further cemented his spot as the ICC’s top-ranked ODI batsman.
Babar added 179 runs for the third wicket with Mohammad Rizwan who contributed 74 off 58 balls with the help of eight fours. The two upped Pakistan’s run rate after a cautious start by finding the boundary at regular intervals as England bowlers toiled hard on a good batting surface.
Babar had earlier added 92 runs for the second-wicket with Imam-ul-Haq who scored 56 off 73 balls (seven fours).
Pacer Brydon Carse who took five wickets in the death overs finished with figures of 10-0-61-5. Opening bowler Saqib Mahmood took three wickets for 60 runs.
Chasing 332-runs for a third straight win in the series, England were well served by the pair of James Vince and Lewis Gregory who added 129 runs for the sixth wicket to rescue their side from a precarious position of 165 for five.
The right-handed Vince posted the maiden ODI century of his career, he scored 102 off 95 balls (11 fours) to spearhead the big chase – sixth-best by England in ODIs.
All-rounder Gregory provided great support from the other end as he posted his career-best 77 (69 balls, six fours, three sixes).
Vince and Gregory went in quick succession but the pair of Craig Overton and Carse added 29 runs for the unbeaten eight-wicket partnership to take their side to the target with 12 balls spare.
Pacer Haris Rauf took four wickets for Pakistan (first ODI four-wicket haul) while Shadab Khan took two for 61.
Both sides will now feature in a three-match T20I series starting from 16 July at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 331-9, 50 overs (Babar Azam 158, Mohammad Rizwan 74, Imam-ul-Haq 56; Brydon Carse 5-61, Saqib Mahmood 3-60)
England 332-7 48 overs (James Vince 102, Lewis Gregory 77, Zak Crawley 39; Haris Rauf 4-65)
Player of the match – James Vince
Player of the series – Saqib Mahmood
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