ENG vs PAK: Pakistan Captain Babar Azam Stars With 158 Against England In 3rd ODI

Pakistan captain Babar Azam returned to form with a brilliant 158, his highest one-day international score, as the tourists tried to deny England a series sweep at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Azam's 14t

Azam spent 14 balls on nought and went to fifty in a relatively sedate 72 balls. But so long as he stayed in there was every chance he would increase his scoring rate and so it proved with a cut boundary off Mahmood taking him to a hundred in just 104 balls including nine fours and two sixes.

And having gone past his previou highest ODI score of 125 not out, against the West Indies at Providence in 2017, he was dropped on 126 before going to 150 in 134 balls. Not only did the 26-year-old Azam punish the loose ball, he also drove Carse through the covers for a rasping boundary.

Stokes, the most experienced member of the side, eventually brought himself on to bowl in ther 20th over only to be pulled for four by Azam to the delight of a large Pakistan contingent in the crowd.

Imam, the nephew of Pakistan great Inzamam-ul-Haq, was bowled by a superb delivery from leg-spinner Matt Parkinson that pitched outside the left-hander's off stump and then turned sharply to bowl him between bat and pad.

Rizwan's fifty, off just 42 balls, however, gave Pakistan valuable impetus. Azam was dropped on 126 when Carse failed to hold what would have been an excellent catch at midwicket following a powerful pull off Parkinson.

Azam cashed in, driving Carse over long-on for a majestic six. Rizwan was caught behind down the legside off Carse before Azam holed out in the last over.