Pakistan inflict more misery on West Indies in Twenty20 series

Lauderhill, Florida: Pakistan extended the West Indies’ miserable run in Twenty20 cricket with a 14-run victory in the opening match of the three-game series at Lauderhill on Thursday, as their spinners – led by Mohammad Nawaz – dismantled the hosts’ top order under the lights.

Saim Ayub was named Player of the Match for a composed 57 off 38 balls and a useful spell of 2-20 on a pitch that offered turn and variable bounce. But it was Nawaz, who produced the game-changing moment, claiming three wickets in a single over to derail the West Indies’ chase of 179.

Put in to bat, Pakistan posted 178 for six, riding on a second-wicket stand of 81 between Ayub and Fakhar Zaman (28). The pair took the score to 107 in the 12th over before Jason Holder removed Ayub lbw with a well-directed delivery. Ayub’s knock featured five boundaries and two sixes.

Pakistan’s momentum dipped briefly but they regained control in the final overs. Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Nawaz chipped in with useful cameos, while Mohammad Haris struck a spectacular six to lift the visitors to 58 runs in the last 31 deliveries.

Shamar Joseph, returning to the West Indies lineup, was the most impressive bowler for the hosts with figures of 3-30.

West Indies made a promising start in their chase as openers Johnson Charles and 18-year-old debutant Jewel Andrew put on 72 runs in 11 overs. Andrew, the youngest ever T20I debutant for West Indies, impressed with a confident 35.

But the contest turned dramatically in the 12th over when left-arm spinner Nawaz removed Andrew, Charles (35), and Gudakesh Motie (0) in the space of five balls. That over saw the West Indies collapse from 72 without loss to 75 for three.

The slide continued in the very next over as captain Shai Hope fell for just 2, lofting Ayub to the deep, and the home side had lost four wickets for five runs.

Despite some late resistance from Holder, who smashed four sixes in an unbeaten 30 off 12 balls, and Joseph (21 from 12), the West Indies could only manage 164 for seven – falling 14 runs short and slumping to their sixth straight T20 defeat.

“It was important to build partnerships and not panic on this surface,” said Ayub. “We knew anything close to 180 would be challenging to chase.”

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised his team’s composure, especially with the ball: “We started strong and finished even better. Nawaz’s over really broke their momentum.”

The defeat continues a horror run for the West Indies, who were whitewashed 5-0 by Australia in their recent home T20 series, following comprehensive losses in the Tests as well. Australia’s tour culminated in a historic 8-0 sweep across formats in the Caribbean.

The two teams will meet again in Lauderhill on Saturday and Sunday for the second and third T20s before shifting to the Caribbean for a three-match ODI series in Tarouba.