Imam century powers Pakistan to 358-9 in third ODI against England

The 23-year-old left-hander´s innings was also the highest individual score by a Pakistan batsman against England at this level, surpassing the 138 m

By AFP
May 14, 2019

BRISTOL: Imam-ul-Haq came into form ahead of the World Cup with a career-best 151 as Pakistan made 358 for nine against tournament hosts England in the third one-day international at Bristol on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old left-hander´s innings was also the highest individual score by a Pakistan batsman against England at this level, surpassing the 138 made by his opening partner, Fakhar Zaman, in a 12-run defeat at Southampton on Saturday that left the home side 1-0 up in this five-match series.

Meanwhile Chris Woakes did his chances of being included in tournament hosts England´s final 15-man squad for the World Cup no harm with a return of four wickets for 67 runs in a maximum 10 overs.

But team-mate Joe Denly´s World Cup chances suffered a setback, with the leg-spinner -- playing in place of the rested Adil Rashid -- bowling a couple of full tosses in a solitary over costing nine runs before he was taken out of the attack by England captain Eoin Morgan.

Warwickshire pace-bowling all-rounder Woakes made an early double strike to reduce Pakistan to 27 for two after Morgan won the toss and decided to let England chase -- they generally prefer to bat first -- ahead of the World Cup.

Woakes´s last ball of the first over, an excellent full-length delivery, had Fakhar edging to second slip where Test skipper Joe Root held a juggled catch.

Number three Babar Azam was then clean bowled by a Woakes off-cutter.

But new batsman Haris Sohail was quickly into his stride in ideal batting conditions on a sunny day.

The left-hander hit two superbly timed fours off successive Woakes deliveries through point and then drove David Willey through the covers for a boundary.

But Sohail´s excellent run-a-ball 41 came to an unfortunate end when, called through for a single by Imam, he was run out by bowler Tom Curran kicking the ball onto the striker´s-end stumps.

Pakistan were then 95 for three in the 17th over.

But Imam and Asif Ali, whose 52 was his second successive fifty, repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket partnership of 125.

Imam, the nephew of Pakistan great and selection chief Inzamam-ul-Haq, went to his sixth hundred in 27 ODIs -- and first against England -- off 97 balls.

He continued to take the attack to England, driving Willey for a straight six and next ball glancing the left-arm quick for four.

Imam then surpassed his previous ODI best of 128 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo last year.

Asif holed out off Woakes and Imam´s excellent innings ended when he was bowled, giving himself room, by Curran.

Imam faced 131 balls including 16 fours and a six.

Tailenders Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi hit out to leave England, who had also rested Jos Buttler following the star batsman´s blistering 110 not out at Southampton, with a decent chase for victory.

Comments