Pakistan seal easy T20 series sweep against West Indies

KARACHI, Apr 4 (AFP): Opener Babar Azam missed a maiden hundred by three runs as Pakistan trounced the West Indies by 82 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Karachi yesterday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Babar cracked 13 fours and a six in his 58-ball innings, reaching 97 not out to guide Pakistan to their highest-ever T20 total of 205-3 in 20 overs, after Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first at National Stadium.

Paceman Mohammad Amir took 3-22 as the West Indies were dismissed for 123 in 19.2 overs, faring much better than their 60 all out in the first match which they lost by 143 runs - the second-biggest margin of defeat in T20 internationals.

The third match is today, also in Karachi.

The West Indies showed more resistance yesterday as Chadwick Walton hit two sixes and four boundaries during his 29-ball 40 and added 39 for the second wicket with the experienced Marlon Samuels, who made 12.

But Shadab (2-23) dismissed both in the space of seven runs to check the West Indian chase before Talat mopped up the tail with 2-12.