Pakistan found just the right mix of flair and firepower to get their Caribbean tour off to a winning start. A strong batting hand from Saim Ayub, followed by a game-changing spell by Mohammad Nawaz, helped Pakistan beat the West Indies by 14 runs in the first T20I at Lauderhill.
A Confident Start with the Bat
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan looked determined to make a statement. Saim Ayub, after a struggling Bangladesh tour, found his groove back and brought calmness to the crease and aggression to the scoreboard.
The left-hander struck a fluent 57 off 38 balls, his second T20I half-century, peppering the field with five fours and two towering sixes.
Saim’s 81-run stand with Fakhar Zaman gave Pakistan a solid platform. Fakhar, too, played his part with a handy 28 off 24 before both batters departed in quick succession, just when Pakistan seemed poised to explode.
Still, the middle and lower order chipped in. Hassan Nawaz added a busy 24 off 18, while Faheem Ashraf (16 off 9) and captain Salman Ali Agha (11 not out off 7) ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. Pakistan ended with a competitive 178-6.
West Indies’ Promising Start
Chasing 179, West Indies got off to a steady, if not blazing, start. Johnson Charles and Jewel Andrew put together 72 runs in just over 11 overs. At that stage, the game looked nicely poised. But their conservative approach let the required run-rate creep up and created the perfect storm for a collapse.
Enter Mohammad Nawaz. In the 12th over, his final over of the spell, Nawaz flipped the script. He removed Andrew, Charles, and Gudakesh Motie in the space of six balls. From 72-0, the West Indies suddenly found themselves wobbling at 75-3.
Saim Steps Up with the Ball Too
As if his knock wasn’t enough, Saim Ayub also delivered with the ball. He picked up two crucial wickets, captain Shai Hope and the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford, in consecutive overs, sinking West Indies deeper into trouble.
By the 17th over, they had slumped to 114-7, needing 65 off the final 18 deliveries. Jason Holder (30 not out off 12) and Shamar Joseph (21 not out off 12) gave it a mighty go in the death overs. But by then, the game had slipped too far.
Pakistan kept their nerve and wrapped up a solid 14-run win.
Mohammad Nawaz ended with figures of 3-23, a spell that turned the game. Saim Ayub finished with 2-20, proving his value as a handy part-timer.
Shaheen Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem also chipped in with a wicket apiece, playing their roles in breaking partnerships at just the right moments.
The second T20I is set to take place on Sunday, 3 August at the same venue in Lauderhill. With Pakistan leading 1-0, the West Indies will be eager to bounce back and level the series.
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