Kamran Akmal walks off the field dismissed by Alzarri Joseph during the 2nd ODI.—AFP
Reinstated in his favourite number three spot in the batting order, Azam held a faltering innings together and then accelerated towards an unbeaten 125, his fifth century in ODIs and fourth in five innings against the Caribbean side. He received critical support from Imad Wasim, the all-rounder finishing unbeaten on 43 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 99 which released the shackles of previously disciplined West Indian bowling on a pitch lacking the pace and bounce from the first match.
Pakistan found free scoring difficult at the start and lost both openers to excellent leg side catches by wicketkeeper Shai Hope off fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN:
Ahmed Shehzad c Hope b Gabriel 5
Kamran Akmal c Hope b Joseph 21
Babar Azam not out 125
Mohammad Hafeez st Hope b Nurse 32
Shoaib Malik c Hope b Bishoo 9
Sarfraz Ahmed c Walton b Gabriel 26
Imad Wasim not out 43
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-9, W-9, NB-2) 21
TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 282
FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-44, 3-113, 4-128, 5-183.
DID NOT BAT: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan.
BOWLING: Gabriel 10-1-50-2 (1nb, 2w); Holder 9-0-48-0 (1w); Joseph 9-0-69-1 (1nb, 3w); Bishoo 10-0-40-1; Nurse 10-0-42-1 (3w); Carter 2-0-23-0.
WEST INDIES:
E. Lewis lbw b Amir 13
C.A.K. Walton c Hasan b Junaid 10
S.D. Hope c Shadab b Hasan 15
K.O.A. Powell lbw b Hasan 11
J.L. Carter lbw b Hafeez 12
J.N. Mohammed s Sarfraz b Hafeez 1
J.O. Holder c Babar b Hasan 68
A.R. Nurse lbw b Hasan 44
D. Bishoo lbw b Shadab 16
A.S. Joseph c Babar b Hasan 15
S.T. Gabriel not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2) 3
TOTAL (all out, 44.5 overs) 208
FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-27, 3-46, 4-51, 5-56, 6-75, 7-133, 8-156, 9-208
BOWLING: Mohammad Amir 7-1-36-1; Junaid Khan 6-0-41-1 (1w); Hasan Ali 8.5-1-38-5; Mohammad Hafeez 6-0-23-2; Imad Wasim 7-0-29-0 (1w); Shadab Khan 10-1-40-1.
RESULT: Pakistan won by 74 runs to level three-match series 1-1.
UMPIRES: G.O. Brathwaite (West Indies) and I.J. Gould (England).
TV UMPIRE: S.D. Fry (Australia).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Babar Azam.