- Match scorecard, available here
Birmingham, 13 July 2021: 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 high scoring thriller at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday.
After being put into 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
