Babar's 17th ODI century earns Pakistan win over West Indies

Both Babar and Imam dominated the spinners and pace on a wicket conducive for batting

Captain Babar Azam's record-breaking 17th ODI hundred powered Pakistan to a five-wicket win over the West Indies in sweltering heat.

Babar's 103 off 107 balls — his fourth century in the last five one-day internationals — carried Pakistan to 306-5 with four balls to spare for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Left-handed batter Khushdil Shah survived a couple of close run-outs before smashing four sixes against the fast bowlers to remain unbeaten on 41 off 23 balls here on Wednesday.

Shai Hope's brilliant 127 off 134 had earlier propelled the West Indies to 305-8 after captain Nicholas Pooran had won the toss and elected to bat with the temperature reaching 42 degree Celsius (107 F).

But Babar, the world's top-ranked ODI batter, perfectly engineered Pakistan's highest-ever chase in an ODI against the West Indies.

Babar and Imam-u-Haq, who made 65, shared a 103-run second wicket stand after Fakhar Zaman (11) spliced a catch at short cover off Jayden Seales' short-pitch ball early in the run-chase.

Both Babar and Imam dominated the spinners and pace on a wicket conducive for batting. Akeal Hosein got the breakthrough when Imam went for a needless reverse sweep against the left-arm spinner and offered a tame catch.