CWC 2019: Babar Azam's 112 powers Pakistan to 262, South Africa smash 338/7 versus Sri Lanka

Pakistan has set Afghanistan 263 to chase, while Sri Lanka will have to get 339 against South Africa.

Babar Azam | Getty

Pakistan is taking on Afghanistan in an official warm-up game prior to the World Cup 2019 at Bristol on Friday (May 24). This is first of the two warm-up encounters each that both these teams will take part in before the main tournament begins on May 30. 

As things stand at the halfway mark, batting first Pakistan began its innings with a decent opening partnership of 47 runs between Imam-ul-Haq (32) and Fakhar Zaman (19) before Afghanistan pacer Hamid Hasan removed the former and Mohammad Nabi struck in quick succession to leave the opponent struggling at 100/4. This is when Babar Azam, Pakistan's best batsman, stitched together a fifth-wicket 103-run stand with veteran Shoaib Malik to put things back on track. 

Malik got out on 44, but Babar hung on despite regular wickets falling either side of him and struck another solid ton (112 off 108 balls) to ensure that his team finished at 262 all out in 47.4 overs. Pakistan collapsed from 203/5, losing the last five wickets for just 59 runs. 

For Afghanistan, Nabi (3/46), Rashid Khan (2/27), Dawlat Zadran (2/37) delivered the goods with the ball. The onus will now be on Afghanistan's weaker suit - its batting - to chase the score down against Pakistan's traditionally stronger one - the bowling - and set overall preparations right before the World Cup kickstarts for either side. 

Faf du Plessis | Getty

Meanwhile, in another official warm-up game, South Africa is facing off Sri Lanka at Cardiff. 

The Proteas batted first and got off to a very fine start, with openers Hashim Amla (65) and Aiden Markram (21) stitching together a stand of 47 runs before the latter departed to pave way for skipper Faf du Plessis (88), who continued the innings batting alongside Amla and then Rassie van der Dussen (40) to build a solid foundation for a flourish in the second half of the innings. 

However, David Miller (5), JP Duminy (22), Andile Phehlukwayo (34) couldn't quite encash the opportunity before Dwaine Pretorius (25*) and Chris Morris (26) struck a few good blows at the end to take South Africa to 338/7 in the allotted 50 overs. 

For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakman (2/63), Nuwan Pradeep (2/77), Isuru Udana (1/42) and Dhananjaya de Silva (1/44) tried their best to restrict the run flow. The Island nation is now left with a stiff task to chase the target of 339 down. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 24 May, 2019

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