Dharuba: Centuries from Babar Azam and Azan Awais, backed by half-centuries from Shaun Masood and Abdullah Fazal, put Pakistan in the lead on the second day of practice against West Indies XI at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Sunday.
Resuming at 184-2 in 60.4 overs, Pakistan raced to 455-4 in 136.5 overs as their top-order put on an impressive batting display ahead of the two-match Test series against the West Indies.
Awais, returning unbeaten overnight, scored his maiden century of the tournament after sharing a century partnership with Baber. The opener retired after scoring 100 off 241 balls with 9 fours and a six.
Babar then took charge of the innings along with youngster Abdullah Fazal. The pair added valuable runs before the returning Test captain turned his half-century into a fluent century. Babur was eventually dismissed after scoring 100 off 151 balls with 12 fours and a six.
Fazal reached his half-century in 97 balls, including 6 fours, before being dismissed for 50 runs.
Salman Ali Agha then combined with Mohammad Rizwan in Greece as Pakistan comfortably passed the 400-run mark. However, Agha fell just short of his half-century as Ryan Bandoo was dismissed for 46 off 60 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Rizwan was then joined by Amir Jamal and the pair guided Pakistan past 450 runs. Jamal scored 22 runs off 38 balls, including 3 fours, before Pandu struck again for Pakistan’s fourth wicket.
At the end of the game, Rizwan was unbeaten on 44 off 103 balls, hitting a six, and would resume Pakistan’s innings on the third day.
On the opening day, Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq early for 39 runs. Imam scored 10 runs off 36 balls, including a boundary, as Ojay Shields took his wicket.
The duo combined for 108 runs to control the innings, with Shaun joining Masood Awais. Awais hit a well-crafted half-century while Masood brought up his half-century as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark.
Pakistan were 147-2 in 45.4 overs when Jomel Warwickan dismissed Masood after scoring 70 runs in an innings that included 10 boundaries off 100 balls.
Babar then came to Greece and, along with Awais, guided Pakistan past 150 before stumps on the opening day, laying the foundation for the visitors’ dominance.