Cricket: Pakistan thump West Indies

Babar Azam's maiden century set Pakistan up for victory. Photo / Getty Images

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz's 4-42 backed up Babar Azam's maiden one-day international century as Pakistan crushed the West Indies by 111 runs in the first of their three-match series on Friday.

Azam smashed 120 off 131 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes in Pakistan's strong total of 284-9 in 49 overs after a power failure at Sharjah Cricket Stadium interrupted the innings for 80 minutes.

West Indies' target was revised to 287 on the Duckworth/Lewis method, and the batsmen succumbed to Nawaz's spin to be bowled out for 175 in 38.4 overs. Marlon Samuels top-scored with 46.

"It was a wonderful team effort," Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said. "The ball wasn't coming on well in the afternoon, but the way Babar and Sharjeel (Khan) batted, they gave us a good score.

"Limited-overs cricket is always a young man's game, so the way they (the youngsters) are absorbing pressure and delivering, it's heartening to see."

Azam, who came in after Azhar Ali was caught behind off the first ball of the match, featured in two solid half-century stands with Sharjeel (54) and Sarfraz Ahmed (35).

Kieron Pollard took an acrobatic catch on the boundary edge to end Azam's knock in the 43rd over, and two overs later the players had to leave the field with Pakistan at 260-6.When the lights were back on, West Indies did well to allow only 24 more runs. Carlos Barthwaite took 3-54.

When it came to the chase, openers Charles Johnson (20) and debutant Kraigg Brathwaite (14) struggled on the slow pitch and were dismissed by Pakistan seamers Hasan Ali (3-14), and Mohammad Amir (1-21).

Nawaz then exploited the West Indies batsmen's vulnerability to spin, clean-bowling Darren Bravo in his first over, and inducing Denesh Ramdin to be caught, brilliantly, ay shot cover by Azhar. Kieron Pollard holed out to deep extra cover, and West Indies slipped to 99-5 without recovering.

"We struggled to build any momentum," captain Jason Holder said. "We need to set it up well, and of the top four batsmen, at least two of them needed to bat deep."

After being sent in to bat, Pakistan overcame losing Azhar quickly through Sharjeel and Azam adding a nearly run-a-ball 82 together. Sharjeel perished soon after completing his half-century with a six off Sunil Narine.

Azam added 99 more with Sarfraz, who rotated the strike well, as West Indies couldn't grab their opportunities. Ramdin missed a Sarfraz stumping when the batsman was on 5, and Carlos Brathwaite couldn't run out Azam on 63 off his own bowling.

The second match is at the same venue on Sunday.

- AAP