Imam century powers Pakistan to 358-9 in third ODI against England

AFP  |  Bristol 

came into form ahead of with a career-best 151 as made 358 for nine against tournament hosts England in the third one-day international at on Tuesday.

Meanwhile did his chances of being included in tournament hosts England's final 15-man squad for no harm with a return of four wickets for 67 runs in a maximum 10 overs.

But team-mate Joe Denly's chances suffered a setback, with the leg-spinner -- playing in place of the rested -- bowling a couple of full tosses in a solitary over costing nine runs before he was taken out of the attack by England

Warwickshire pace-bowling all-rounder Woakes made an early double strike to reduce to 27 for two after Morgan won the toss and decided to let England chase -- they generally prefer to bat first -- ahead of

Woakes's last ball of the first over, an excellent full-length delivery, had Fakhar edging to second slip where Test skipper held a juggled catch.

Number three was then clean bowled by a Woakes off-cutter.

But new batsman was quickly into his stride in ideal batting conditions on a sunny day.

The left-hander hit two superbly timed fours off successive Woakes deliveries through point and then drove through the covers for a boundary.

But Sohail's excellent run-a-ball 41 came to an unfortunate end when, called through for a single by Imam, he was run out by bowler kicking the ball onto the striker's-end stumps.

Pakistan were then 95 for three in the 17th over.

But and Asif Ali, whose 52 was his second successive fifty, repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket partnership of 125.

Imam, the nephew of Pakistan Inzamam-ul-Haq, went to his sixth hundred in 27 ODIs -- and first against England -- off 97 balls.

He continued to take the attack to England, driving Willey for a straight six and next ball glancing the left-arm quick for four.

then surpassed his previous ODI best of 128 against at Bulawayo last year.

Asif holed out off Woakes and Imam's excellent innings ended when he was bowled, giving himself room, by Curran.

faced 131 balls including 16 fours and a six.

and hit out to leave England, who had also rested following the star batsman's blistering 110 not out at Southampton, with a decent chase for victory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, May 14 2019. 22:16 IST