West Indies vs Pakistan: Hasan Nawaz leads Men in Green to victory

TAROUBA: In the first Pakistan vs West Indies match of the ongoing ODI-series, the Men in Green won with 5 wickets to spare at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad.

Chasing 281, Pakistan reached their target with 7 balls to spare. The Green Shirts overcame early setbacks with an unbeaten lower-order partnership.

West Indies posted a total of 180 runs all out in the 49th over of their innings. Opener Evin Lewis gave Pakistani bowlers a tough time. He scored 60 runs off 62 balls using a mix of boundaries and controlled, patient batting.

Read more: Pakistan women set 169-run target as Ireland chase in second T20I

West Indies captain Shai Hope managed to score a half-century (55), while all-rounder Roston Chase scored 53 runs.

Despite a good state, the West Indies batting lineup struggled to accelerate the scoring in the final overs.

Pakistani bowlers performance

Pakistan’s bowling effort was led by fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took four wickets. However, he yielded a whopping 51 runs.

Young pacer Naseem Shah took three wickets while yielding 55 runs. Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem and Salman Ali Agha each picked up a single wicket.

Pakistan batters struggle against West Indies

Pakistan’s turn with the bat faced an early setback with opener Saim Ayub being dismissed for a mere 5 runs by Jayden Seales.

Pakistan’s middle order responded with a 47-run partnership between Abdullah Shafique (29) and Babar Azam. The former captain was just shy of a half-century (47) before being stumped off Gudakesh Motie’s bowling.

Read more: Pakistan Shaheens’ Haider Ali released on bail following rape allegation

Mohammad Rizwan then anchored the team with measured, patient batting. He reached his 16th ODI fifty with a score of 53.

Rizwan was later dismissed lbw by Shamar Joseph in the 38th over, leaving Pakistan 180 for 5 – still requiring 101 runs to win.

Hasan Nawaz-Hussain Talat partnership

The defining moment in the first Pakistan vs West Indies match came when Hasan Nawaz joined Hussain Talat at the crease. The pair formed a patient and unbeaten partnership of 104 runs; guiding Pakistan steadily towards the target.

Hasan Nawaz showed great skill with the bat, finishing 63 not out off 54 balls. He hit five 4s and three 6s as boundaries. Hussain Talat finished unbeaten with 41 runs off 37 balls.   

Read more: Fakhar Zaman’s rehab starts next week; Asia Cup place uncertain

The 22-year-old secured the victory by hitting a boundary off the penultimate ball bowled by Joseph, sealing a hard-fought 5-wicket win for Pakistan. He was later awarded the Player of the Match.

The win puts Pakistan ahead 1-0 in the ODI series.