Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq s⭕mashed quick centuries on Thursday as Pakistan beat Australia by six wickets in the second ODI and leওvel the three-match series (1-1).
Captain Babar played a scintillating knock of 1🌞14 (83) while Imam hit a 97-ball 106 as the hosts reached to 349/4 with an over to spare.
It was Pakistan’s first win over Australia since 2017 and also their highest successful run chase in ODI cricket.
Earlier, Australia posted an another imposing 348 for 8 after Pakistan won the toss and opted to field for the second time in a row. Number 3 batter Ben McDermott (104 off 108) registered his maiden ODI ton and formed the cornerstone of Australia’s total.
Travis Head (89) missed out on his second successive hundred while Marnus Labuschagne (59 off 49) and Marcus Stoinis (49 off 33) played cameos to set up another huge t🌠otal for the Green Team after the Aussies defended 313/7 in the first ODI in Lahore on Tuesday, March 29.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Babar Azam ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Babar has skills, technique and jigar. The perfect mix when you are c𝐆hasing a big total.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Well played . What a historic win against Australia. & set the tone & & rest finish it on
in style….
Now all eyes on decider..— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth)
An🦹other Day, Another great Knock💯 from the king himself 👏🏼👏🏼
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal)
Most hundreds by a Pakistani captain in ODIs
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
This was the shot of the night!🔥 Very few can do this. 💫💫💫
Brilliance by— Mike Haysman (@MikeHaysman)
More runs for the captain in a winning effort.
Take a bow Babar Azam! 💯
— ICC (@ICC)
Babar Azam has brought those days back when Virat🅘 Kohli use to chase down the high scoring targets. Gradually Babar Azam is checking all the points what Virat Kohli did years ba♓ck to become a great batter of the era! Surely Babar Azam is becoming the best of all!👏👏
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_)
One of the best knock of Babar Azam's ODI career – 100* from just 73 balls while chasing 349 runs against Australia – What a knock.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Congratulations to Team Pakistan on highest successful run chase 😍👏🏼. & star performers of the game last night 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Best wishes for series𓃲 decider 🤲🏼 Pakistan 🇵🇰 Zindabad
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22)
Babar’s innings was poetry. He came back to his own. Just brilliant whenever he bats it’s like an art of the vi💫olinist- poetic frenzy. Spectacular innings in the context o🌞f the game. More to follow. 💪💪💪💪😁🕺
— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz)
He might not be there to ta🐲ke Pakistan home but that was a glorious innings from Babar Azam. I’d say it was worth flying half way arson’s the world to watch but I’m afraid it might land me in the papers again.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
