Babar Azam's scintillating ton, Shadab Khan's spin magic helps Pakistan thump Sri Lanka in second ODI at Abu Dhabi

Babar Azam continued his splendid form with the bat by scoring his second consecutive century to help Pakistan thump Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the second day-night international in Abu Dhabi on Monday.       

One-drop batsman Babar knocked a fighting 133-ball 103 while Shadab scored a career best 52 not out to lift Pakistan from a struggling 79-5.        

That was before Shadab the bowler returned with his best figures of 3-47 to dismiss Sri Lanka for 187 all out in 48 overs.The 23-year-old Babar and Shadab, who turned 19 earlier this month, were engaged in a match-turning 109-run seventh-wicket stand which helped Pakistan reach 291-9 on a sluggishSheikh Zayed Stadium.       

The victory gives Pakistan a 2-0 lead in the five-match series while this becomes Sri Lanka's ninth defeat in a row. Skipper Upul Tharanga became the first Sri Lankan and 11th batsmen in the one-day history to carry his bat through a completed innings with a fighting 144-ball 112 not out with 14 boundaries his 15th ODI century.       

It were bowlers who helped Pakistan defend a low total despite Tharanga and Jeffrey Vandarsay (22) put up a fighting76-run eighth wicket stand, but it wasn't enough.       

Dropped twice on 13 and then on 20, Tharana stood aloneas Sri Lanka needed 51 off the last five overs but the lasttwo batsmen were run out and he was left stranded.       

It were bowlers who helped Pakistan defend a low target.Once paceman Junaid Khan removed Niroshan Dickwella for threein the third over, spinners Shadab, Shoaib Malik (1-17) and Mohammad Hafeez (1-24) rocked the Sri Lankan batting with regular wickets.        

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed praised his bowlers. "I can't praise the bowlers enough for defending this220," said Ahmed. "Babar and Shadab are very young and it was nice to see them bat so well."       

Tharanga admitted his batting let the team down.       

"It's disappointing to lose," said Tharanga. "When you're90 for 7, it's a tough task. It was good to carry the bat, butI'm disappointed with the result." Earlier, Azam followed up his 103 which anchoredPakistan's 83-run win in the first game in Dubai on Friday, once again anchoring the innings.       

Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, found the going tough as they lost half the side at the end of 20 overs forjust 79, but Azam and Shadab led the fightback.       

Azam brought up his seventh one-day hundred off 130 balls-- his fourth this year -- with a sharp double in the 49thover.        
Shadab, who scored 14 not out in his only previous innings, played a support role during which he hit just one boundary off 68 balls.       

Sri Lankan new-ball bowlers Lahiru Gamage (4-57) and Suranga Lakmal (1-42) made early inroads with three wickets inside first power-play of ten overs.       

Gamage had Fakhar Zaman dismissed for 11 and Mohammad Hafeez for eight while Lakmal dismissed out-of-form Ahmed Shehzad for eight.        
Medium pacer Thisara Perera (2-34) then struck twice, removing Shoaib Malik (11) and Sarfraz Ahmed (five) to leave Pakistan in a spot of bother.       

Azam added 22 for the sixth wicket with Imad Wasim (ten)before his stand with Shadab gave Pakistan's total some respectability.The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi(October 18) and Sharjah (October 20 and 23).       

The two teams will also play three Twenty20internationals, the first two in Abu Dhabi (October 26 and 27)and the last in Lahore (October 29).