Babar Azam scores 14th ODI hundred as Pakistan set England 332 runs to win at Edgbaston

Babar Azam scored a classy century as Pakistan set England a target of 332 to win the third and final ODI of the series. 

The Pakistan captain is now the fastest player ever to 14 ODI hundreds and went on to hit his highest score in the format at Edgbaston, with half-centuries from Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan offering him support.

England however reined the visitors in at the death, with quick bowler Brydon Carse taking five wickets and Saqib Mahmood also striking twice in his final over to prevent Pakistan from scoring more than 350. 

The Pakistan captain also scored his first score of more than 150 in ODIs and the highest 50-over score of any Pakistani against England

Brydon Carse (right) helped to restrict Pakistan with his maiden international five-wicket haul

Pakistan had failed to hit the 200-run mark in their defeats at Cardiff and Lord’s and there were fears they were heading the same way when Fakhar Zaman was caught in the slips by Zak Crawley off Mahmood.

But opener ul-Haq – having recorded scores of zero and one in the first two ODIs – bided his time along with captain Azam before leading a counterattack to reach his half-century and lead the visitors past 100.

Lancashire legspinner Matt Parkinson however broke the 92-run partnership with a stunning delivery that turned and bounced through the gate of ul-Haq and crashed into the stumps.

But Azam continued to motor and after bringing up his half-century in 72 balls, he required just another 32 deliveries to become the fastest man or woman to reach 14 ODI centuries and celebrated with a huge roar.

Azam was well supported by opener Imam-ul-Haq, who made a half-century at Edgbaston

He was going well until he was beaten by a terrific delivery from legspinner Matt Parkinson

The Lancashire spinner’s ball turned and bounced and crashed into ul-Haq’s stumps

Wicketkeeper Rizwan had also struggled for form with the bat but helped keep the momentum going with some clean hitting to bring up his fourth ODI fifty off 42 balls.

Mistakes also began to creep into England’s game, with wicketkeeper John Simpson failing to hold on to a tough chance off Rizwan from Parkinson’s googly, while Brydon Carse also shelled an opportunity to dismiss Azam from the spinner’s full toss. 

The visiting duo made the most of the reprieves they had been granted and punished some under-pressure home bowlers, with their 179-run stand the highest partnership for any wicket against England by Pakistan in ODI history.

Rizwan however would not join his captain in reaching three figures, feathering behind down the legside off Carse for 74.

Mohammad Rizwan also returned to form with a fifty including plenty of clean hitting

The wicketkeeper and his captain threatened to take Pakistan to a score in excess of 350

Azam however brought up his first score of 150 or more in his 83rd ODI soon after before Sohaib Maqsood was caught in the deep by James Vince off Carse for a quickfire eight. 

Hasan Ali – like Maqsood – hit four off his first delivery before being caught by Crawley off his second. Faheem Ashraf smashed a six and a four of his first two balls only to have Mahmood take his off stump out of the ground with a slower delivery.

The Lancashire paceman then had Shadab Khan caught behind off the very next ball to end his day with the ball with figures of three for 60. 

Azam looked to steer his side closer to a score of 350 but fell himself on 158 –  the highest score by a Pakistani against England in an ODI – in the final over to hand Carse his fourth wicket.

The Durham quick would not be denied his five-fer either, having Shaheen Afridi caught by Vince with two balls of the innings to go.

But Carse eventually had Rizwan caught in the deep and also dismissed Azam in the final over

Saqib Mahmood also brought more respectability to his figures with two wickets in his final over