Pakistan proved to be too good for the West Indies in the first T20I of the three-match series in Karachi December 13, winning by a huge margin of 63 runs. The hosts posted a gigantic total of 200/6 before dismissing the visitors for a paltry 137 in 19 overs.
Missing their regular skipper and experienced allrounder Kieron Pollard, West Indies led by young Nicholas Pooran failed to give a good account of themselves in trying circumstances.
For Pakistan, it was a happy homecoming for the season as Babar Azam’s team continued their good run in T20Is after making the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in UAE.
As it happened, Windies opted to bowl first after winning the toss, hoping to keep the hosts down to a manageable score and chase it down in the second half. However, their hopes vanished quickly when Pakistan took control of things with the bat and dominated.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan (78 off 52) and Haider Ali (68 off 39) were the stand-out performers with the bat for Pakistan in the first half. The duo stitched a fantastic 105-run stand for the third wicket, which allowed Pakistan to push towards 200. Lower-order bat Mohammad Nawaz (30 off 10) also contributed massively with his timely big hits at the death.
For WI, as was the case at the T20 World Cup, only left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (1/19) looked in any sort of control with the ball. The rest went for plenty, including Romaria Shephard, who took two wickets but conceded 43 runs off his four overs. Odean Smith went for 56.
In the run-chase, West Indies never got going, with their struggles summed up by a painstaking effort at the top from Shai Hope, who made 31 off his 26 balls. 24 from Smith was the next highest score of the innings as West Indies failed to cope under pressure against some strong Pakistani bowling.
Mohammad Wasim Jr ended with four wickets for 40 off his four overs, while Nawaz (1/24) and fellow spinner Shadab Khan (3/17) played their part to perfection.
Brief scores
Pakistan 200/6 in 20 overs (Rizwan 78, Ali 68; Shephard 2/43) won over West Indies 137/10 in 19 overs (Hope 31; Wasim Jr 4/40, Khan 3/17) by 63 runs
