A game-changing over from Mohammad Nawaz, in which he claimed three wickets, helped Pakistan defeat the West Indies by 14 runs in the first match of the T20 series in Florida on Thursday.
Batting first after being put in, Pakistan reached 178 for six, with Saim Ayub leading the way with a fluent 57 off 38 balls.
There was uncertainty over whether the total was competitive on this pitch, but West Indies openers Johnson Charles and debutant Jewel Andrew provided a steady start, taking the score past 70 at the halfway mark.
However, Nawaz, who had given away just 20 runs in his first three overs, turned the game decisively in Pakistan’s favour in the 12th over. He dismissed Andrew for 35, ending a 72-run opening stand, and then removed Charles (35) and Gudakesh Motie (0) in the same over, reducing the hosts to 75-3.
The collapse continued as West Indies lost four wickets for just five runs, with captain Shai Hope (2) falling in the next over to Ayub.
Ayub, named player of the match, impressed not only with the bat but also with the ball, finishing with figures of 2-20. Reflecting on the match, he said the pitch was challenging, so maintaining composure and building partnerships was crucial.
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Late fireworks came from Jason Holder, who smashed four sixes in an unbeaten 30 off 12 balls, and Shamar Joseph, who contributed 21 from 12, lifting West Indies to 164-7 and narrowing the final margin.
The defeat added to West Indies' recent struggles, following a clean sweep by Australia across both Test and T20 formats, culminating in an 8-0 series loss.
Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha praised his team's performance, saying, “We started strong and finished even better.”
Earlier, Ayub and Fakhar Zaman (28) built a solid 81-run second-wicket partnership, taking Pakistan to 107 by the 12th over. Holder broke the stand by trapping Ayub lbw, while Shamar Joseph, making his T20 comeback, impressed with figures of 3-30.
The series continues with the second and third T20s scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Lauderhill, followed by an ODI series in the Caribbean.
Source: Agency