Babar Azam hits century as Pakistan beat Leicestershire in third tour match

LONDON: Pakistan opener Babar Azam smashed his first T20 hundred to inspire his country's 58-run win over Leicestershire in a tour match on Wednesday.

Azam hit two sixes and 13 fours in his 63-ball innings of 101 at Grace Road.

He put on an opening stand of 104 with Fakhar Zaman, who scored 52 from 30 balls, as the tourists reached 200 for six in their 20 overs.

Ben Mike was the pick of the Leicestershire attack with three for 38, including the wicket of Azam, while Dieter Klein also chipped in with a pair of wickets.

In reply, Leicestershire got off to a poor start as the home side were reduced for 39 for three in the sixth over.

Wickets continued to fall at steady intervals and the only partnership of note came late on when Mike and Callum Parkinson put on 59 for the ninth wicket before Leicestershire were dismissed for 142 in 19.2 overs.

Pakistan kicked off their tour of England with a 100-run win over Kent on Saturday.

Imad Wasim hit an unbeaten century, while Zaman made 76 and Haris Sohail 75.

On Monday, Pakistan beat Northamptonshire by eight wickets with Zaman scoring a century and Imam-ul-Haq and Azam chipping in with fifties. 

Pakistan now play England in a one-off T20 international in Cardiff on Sunday, before facing the hosts of the 50-over World Cup — which starts next month — in the first of five one-day internationals at The Oval on May 8.