Hosts failed to chase down 133, losing by three runs after a fantastic bowling display by the visitors.

By Abdullah Ansari (30th March, 2017)

Toss: West Indies won the toss and chose to field. 

Teams:

West Indies: E Lewis, CAK Walton†, MN Samuels, LMP Simmons, KA Pollard, R Powell, CR Brathwaite*, JO Holder, SP Narine, S Badree, KOK Williams

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfraz Ahmed*†, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali

Pakistan Innings

West Indies won the toss and opted to field as Fakhar replaced Hafeez for Pakistan. The visitors were off to a dismal start as Kamran perished for a duck in the first over. Babar and Shehzad hit a couple of fours while the fourth over was a maiden. Babar hit back with three fours in the next two overs but the batsmen struggled to rotate strike and he was dismissed soon after the powerplay, caught behind for 27. Shehzad fell soon too as he tried to turn one into the leg-side and was caught by Brathwaite at mid-wicket. Fakhar had a disappointing debut, caught at the boundary as he looked to clear it. Malik and Sarfraz stabilised the innings for a few overs with the former getting a few boundaries until he was caught at the boundary too. Narine struck twice in the next over to remove Sarfraz and Tanvir as the lower order struggled. Imad fell to Williams but Wahab and Shadab finished strongly with 34 runs coming off the last 3 overs as Pakistan made 132 off their 20 overs. 

Fall Of Wickets

1-0 (Kamran Akmal, 0.5 ov)
2-41 (Babar Azam, 7.5 ov)
3-43 (Ahmed Shehzad, 8.3 ov)
4-51 (Fakhar Zaman, 10.4 ov)
5-87 (Shoaib Malik, 14.5 ov)
6-87 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 15.4 ov)
7-91 (Sohail Tanvir, 15.6 ov)
8-95 (Imad Wasim, 16.3 ov)
9-131 (Wahab Riaz, 19.4 ov)
10-132 (Shadab Khan, 19.6 ov)

West Indies Innings

The Pakistan bowlers began strongly with no boundaries off the first few overs despite lack of wickets. However, the breakthrough came via a run-out caused by a collision, as Lewis dropped his bat and was dismissed as his foot wasn't grounded in the crease. There was soon another collision between Shehzad and Walton as the former tried to effect a run out and this time it looked serious, as he was taken off the field on am ambulance. However, he returned to the field later. Samuels was imperious at the crease, hitting Imad for two big sixes and looking ominous. However, Shadab struck with his now famous googly to dismiss Walton. Simmons was soon LBW to Hasan Ali while Shadab struck twice on consecutive deliveries in his next over to remove Pollard and Powell. Sarfraz made Shadab bowl out and the decision paid off as he had Samuels caught behind with his last delivery to finish with a four-wicket haul. Brathwaite and Holder formed a partnership with the equation coming down to 19 off the last two overs. Wahab bowled a fiery over, getting the captain and leaving 14 for Hasan Ali to defend. Narine smacked the first two balls for fours but Hasan Ali came back superbly as Pakistan sealed a three-run win.

Fall Of Wickets

1-10 (Lewis, 1.4 ov)
2-60 (Walton, 8.1 ov)
3-65 (Simmons, 9.1 ov)
4-76 (Pollard, 10.3 ov)
5-76 (Powell, 10.4 ov)
6-81 (Samuels, 12.6 ov)
7-114 (Brathwaite, 18.2 ov)
8-128 (Narine, 19.5 ov)

Match Summary:

Another superb win for Pakistan, making it six out six. The batting was a worry and it took some lower order heroics for Pakistan to get to a competitive total but the bowling specially Shadab were excellent once again. Sarfraz Ahmed's tenure has begun with six wins in six games - promising signs for the future. 

Next match: 3rd T20I on Saturday, 1st April.

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