The visitors, Pakistan, begin their West Indies tour with a win, defeating the hosts by 14 runs in a last-over thriller in Florida. The West Indies, on the other hand, suffered their 6th consecutive T20I loss as their struggles in the format continue.
Ayub Leads with the Bat, but West Indies Fight Back with the Ball
It was a good toss to win for the Windies on a balanced surface that also favored chasing. Pakistan made a strong start, reaching 46/1 at the end of the powerplay, with Saim Ayub leading the scoring. He and Fakhar Zaman put together a first-wicket partnership of over 80 runs, setting the tone for a solid finish.
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However, the West Indies' death bowling came through at the right time, managing to restrict the visitors to a par total of 178/6. Ayub top-scored with 57 off 38 balls, while Shamar Joseph impressed with figures of 3/30 in his 4 overs..
A target of 179 didn’t seem too daunting, especially with the surface playing better as the match progressed. The West Indies openers successfully countered the early swing from Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, reaching 47/0 at the end of the powerplay. However, once the spinners came into the attack, the run flow began to dry up.
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Nawaz Sparks Collapse Before Holder’s Late Blitz Falls Short
The Windies lost their first wicket in the 11th over. A steady opening stand of 72-run between Johnson Charles and Jewel Andrew came to an end, courtesy of Mohammad Nawaz, who removed both openers in quick succession. Nawaz triggered a sudden collapse, and within two overs, the hosts went from 72/0 to 77/4. Once again, the middle order faltered under pressure at a crucial moment.
The lower-order batting depth of the West Indies, including the likes of Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder, began to rebuild the innings, needing 68 runs in the final four overs with just three wickets in hand.
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Jason Holder launched a counterattack, clearing the ropes four times with massive sixes. He found support in Shamar Joseph, who managed to clear a few of those. With 33 runs required off the final six balls, the match appeared out of reach. Still, the all-rounder started the last over with a towering six, igniting a slight hope for the fans.
Ayub Shines with the Bat as Joseph’s All-Round Effort Goes in Vain
However, Faheem Ashraf held his nerve while bowling the final over, successfully defending the 33-run final over. The West Indies ultimately fell short by 14 runs, giving visitors Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the series.
Shamar Joseph had an outstanding all-round performance, taking 3/30 with the ball and a valuable 21 off 12 with the bat. But Saim Ayub's steady knock of 57 off 38 earned him Player of the Match, helping his team to begin the tour with a win and take the series lead with two games remaining.
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