Pakistan continues its West Indies calamity after Australia scored a 14-run victory in the first T20 of the series.
Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets to lead Pakistan to a 14-run victory in the West Indies with Florida’s Series Open Twenty20 Cricket International Shot.
Pakistan was sent to Bat and posted 178 from 38 delivery with six people led by Saim Ayub’s 57.
The discussion of what is above or below the par target at this venue was partially answered when West Indies openers Johnson Charles and 18-year-old Jewel Andrew made their T20 international debuts, scoring more than six times to the midpoint of the reply.
After admitting 20 runs in his first three overs, left-arm spinner Nawaz shifted the contest dramatically.
He fired Andrew for 35 and started the 12th in a breakthrough to finish the opening stand for 72 runs, adding wickets for Charles (35) and Gudakeshmoti (0) as the West Indies fell to 75-3.
Skipper Shay Hope (2) made a full delivery deeper from AYUB in the next over as the West Indies lost four wickets in five runs.
Ayub, who was selected as a match player for a half-century 2-20 and bowling return, said the pitch would be difficult to play.
A noble tail-end hit from Jason Holder, who hit four sixes with an undefeated 12-ball 30, and Shamar Joseph, who hit 12-21, made the final margin even more respectable, going 164-7 for the West Indies.
That biased contest ended the West Indies’ chance to launch the series against Pakistan on a better foundation after a comprehensive test to Australia and a loss of the T20 series. The Australians concluded their historic 8-0 sweep in the Caribbean early in the week.
Pakistan captain Salman Aliaga said his team “started strongly and finished even better.”
Pakistan’s range was over 200 when Ayub and Fakhar Zaman (28) shared an 81-run second wicket stand to reach 107 in 12th place.
However, Holder locked up the Ayub LBW at 57 and ended 38-ball innings with five boundaries and two sixes to get a significant breakthrough. Reminisced, fast bowler Shamar Joseph put pressure on Pakistan’s batting lineup and returned 3-30 from his four overs.
The second and third T20s will take place on Saturdays and Sundays at Loader Hill, prior to the ODI series in the Caribbean.
