In the first match of the Pakistan vs West Indies T20I series, Pakistan pulled off a thrilling 14-run victory at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida. A calm all-round show by Saim Ayub and a fiery spell from Mohammad Nawaz led the visitors to a 1-0 lead.
West Indies, chasing 179, looked strong early on. Their openers, debutant Jewel Andrew and Johnson Charles, attacked from the start. The duo took the score to 47 without loss in the powerplay and built a 72-run partnership by the seventh over.
But the momentum swung in the 12th over. Mohammad Nawaz struck three times in one over. He dismissed Andrew (35 off 33), Charles (35 off 36), and Gudakesh Motie, who got out for a golden duck. From 72-0, the West Indies collapsed to 75-3.
The slide continued. On his very first ball, Saim Ayub removed skipper Shai Hope for just 2. The home side slumped to 77-4 in the 13th over. Saim struck again soon after, removing Sherfane Rutherford (11). Shaheen Afridi then got rid of Roston Chase (5) in the 16th over.
Sufiyan Muqeem also joined the wicket-takers, clean bowling Romario Shepherd (12 off 5). West Indies looked out of the contest at 164-7 by the end of 20 overs. Despite a brave 30* off 12 balls from Jason Holder and 21 runs from Shamar Joseph, the hosts fell short.
It was their sixth straight T20I loss, following a 5-0 whitewash against Australia.
Nawaz finished with figures of 3/23 in his 4 overs. Saim Ayub, who shone with the ball too, took 2/15. Afridi and Muqeem claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan were sent in to bat first. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub gave a steady start. They added 26 before Farhan fell for 14 to Shamar Joseph, who was making his debut.
Saim Ayub held firm and partnered with Fakhar Zaman for a strong second-wicket stand. Fakhar played aggressively, while Saim rotated the strike. Together, they added 55 runs. At the halfway mark, Pakistan were 70-1.
Saim reached his fourth T20I half-century with class. He hit five fours and two sixes in his 57 off 38 balls. His innings ended in the 12th over, dismissed by Jason Holder. One run later, Fakhar Zaman fell to Joseph for 28.
Hasan Nawaz kept the scoreboard ticking with 24 off 18. He smashed two sixes and a four before falling to Akeal Hosein. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with 8 before being dismissed by Shepherd.
Captain Salman Ali Agha added 11 not out, while Faheem Ashraf scored a handy 15. In the final over, wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris ended the innings with a big six. Pakistan posted a competitive 178-7.
With this win in the Pakistan vs West Indies T20I series opener, the visitors go 1-0 up. The next game is set for Sunday.
