The West Indies won the toss, elected to field first and even got the dangerous Babar Azam out in the very first over, but Pakistan still cantered to a 63-run victory in the first T20I of the three-match series between the two teams, in Karachi on Monday.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan and No.4 batsman Haider Ali struck stroke-filled half-centuries to help the hosts recover from the early jitters and post 200/6 in 20 overs. Then, Mohammad Wasim and Shadab Khan shared seven wickets between them to bowl out the West Indies for 137 in 19 overs.
The Caribbean side never got going in the chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Opener Shai Hope’s 31 was the best in the their scorecard.
Earlier, Pakistan were reduced to 35/2 within five overs, losing captain Babar (0) and Fakhar Zaman (10).
But thereafter Rizwan and Haider collaborated to pull the home team out of trouble. They shared a 105-run partnership, with Haider, adjudged Man of the Match, playing the more aggressive innings of the two.
While Haider’s 68 off 39 balls included six boundaries and four sixes, Rizwan was the top scorer of the innings with 78 off 52 balls, decorated with 10 hits to the fence.
Rizwan was dismissed in the 16th over, but the West Indies could get rid of Haider only in the final over of the innings. Mohammad Nawaz’s 30 not out off 10 balls also helped Pakistan make the most of the death overs.
The Windies bowlers were guilty of being ill-disciplined with their line and length.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 200/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 78, Haider Ali 68; Romario Sheperd 2/43). West Indies 137 in 19 overs (Mohammad Wasim 4/40, Shadab Khan 3/17). Pakistan won by 63 runs.