Karachi – West Indies were simply out-classed, and Pakistan rode 78 from Mohammad Rizwan and 68 from Haider Ali and purposeful bowling to a 63-run win in the first Twenty20 International on Monday and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing 201 for victory at the National Stadium, the Windies batting, which has been reconstituted after the failed campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup last month in the United Arab Emirates, did not ignite and they were bowled out for 137 in 19 overs.
Shai Hope hit the top score of 31, but the West Indies were never in hunt, as the superior Pakistan bowling attack dismantled their batting with pacer Mohammad Wasim taking 4-40 from his allotted four overs and leg-spinner Shadab Khan ending with 3-17 from his spell.
The Windies were set back early when Brandon King was caught at over off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz in the second over.
They slid to 46 for three at the end of the Power Play, after Wasim bowled West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran for 18 and trapped Devon Thomas lbw for two in successive overs of his spell.
The wickets of Hope lbw and T20I debutant Shamarh Brooks bowled for five in the span of four balls to Shadab in the 10th over had the Windies wobbling on 60 for five at the halfway stage.
In the second half of the innings, Odean Smith hit 24, Rovman Powell got 23, and Romario Shepherd added 21, but never seriously threatened to change the outcome of the contest.
The result meant that West Indies have now lost 13 of 19 T20Is against the Pakistanis and gave the hosts a record-equalling 18th T20I win for the year.
“We gave away about 20 runs too many in the field and they were about eight edges that went for boundaries, so there is a bit of concern there, but I still felt that we could have chased that 201,” Pooran said.
“We will definitely learn from this experience. Everyone knows we have a young bunch, but it comes down to execution. I can’t really fault the guys too much… I loved the effort, the energy, and the intensity, but we have to learn as fast as possible, and come back tomorrow (Tuesday) with better plans and execute.”
The second T20I will be played on Tuesday at the same venue, where the third T20I takes place on Thursday.
Earlier, West Indies chose to field, but their bowlers took a pounding, as Rizwan and Player-of-the-Match Haider shared 105 for the third wicket to lead Pakistan to 200 for six in their 20 overs.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein got Pakistani captain Babar Azam, the No.1 rated batsman in the format, caught behind in the first over to give the Windies a bright start to the match.
Shepherd had Fakhar Zaman caught at long-off for 10 in the fifth over, as Pakistan reached 44 for two at the end of the Power Play, but Rizwan and Haider held firm for the next 10 overs to put the hosts in charge.
The untested West Indies attack came under assault, as Rizwan smashed 10 fours in his 52-ball knock for his 12th career half-century and 11th this year, and Haider cracked six fours and four sixes in his 39-ball innings.
The Windies grabbed three wickets between the 16th and 18th overs, but Haider and Mohammad Nawaz with a brisk 30 not out off 10 balls spiced with three fours and two sixes helped Pakistan add 60 in the last five overs.
West Indies brought in Brooks and Devon Thomas from their One-day International squad that also on the ground after Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, and Sheldon Cottrell tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) over the weekend.
Summarised scores:
PAKISTAN 200 for six off 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 78, Haider Ali 68, Mohammad Nawaz 30 not out, Fakhar Zaman 10; Romario Shepherd 2-43).
WEST INDIES 137 off 19 overs (Shai Hope 31, Odean Smith 24, Rovman Powell 23, Romario Shepherd 21, Nicholas Pooran 18; Mohammad Wasim 4-40, Shadab Khan 3-17).
(AR)
