Pakistan thrashed West Indies by 143 runs

 

KARACHI: Pakistan thrashed West Indies by 143 runs to record the second-biggest margin win in T20I history as the tourists collapsed in the first match of the three-T20I series at National Stadium on Sunday.

West Indies batting collapsed at 60 after a sure-footed 41 by debutant Hussain Talat and a late cameo by veteran Shoaib Malik powered Pakistan to a mammoth 203-5.

Mohammad Nawaz struck in the inning’s first over after getting hit for six off his very first ball, removing Chadwick Walton for 6 (4). Mohammad Amir, in the inning’s second over, had Andre Fletcher caught on duck, leaving West Indies at 8-2.

Two balls later, Amir removed skipper Jason Mohammed for duck.

Wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin was out after a five-ball duck, off the first ball by Hasan Ali.

Shadab Khan caught and bowled Powell 5 (10), as Windies staggered to 27-5 in the seventh over. Marlon Samuels showed some resistance with 18 runs, but he was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz as the collapse continued.

Shoaib Malik ripped through the lower order, removing pacer Emrit 11 (20) and Williams 0 (1).

Man-of-the-Match Hussain Talat, who took three catches in the field, took the last wicket to wrap up the match for Pakistan.

Talat, Malik blitz

Hussain Talat’s 37-ball 41 and a quickfire 37 by Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan put up their joint-highest score in the shortest format of the game. The previous best was also 203-5 against Bangladesh in 2008, also in Karachi.

West Indies put brakes on a flying start by Pakistan with two quick wickets after opting to bowl first, as the City of Lights lit up to welcome the return of international cricket after a hiatus of nine years.

West Indies had their first breakthrough as pacer Emrit removed Babar Azam for 13-ball 17, with Pakistan at 46-1.

Fakhar Zaman hit 39 off 24 balls before he was run out, leaving Pakistan at 65-2 in the eighth over.

Hussain Talat, who debuted today along with this Islamabad United teammate Asif Ali, fell short of a memorable fifty, getting run out after a 37-ball 41.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed contributed with a 22-ball 38, hitting some measured shots to steer Pakistan towards a respectable total.

Asif Ali, who rose to fame with his six-hitting ability in PSL 2018, had a forgettable debut with just 1 run.

Shoaib Malik smashed 37 off just 14 balls in the last overs, as West Indies struggled in the field with injuries and misfields.

Earlier, Hussain Talat and Asif Ali were handed their T20I debut caps by former captains Ramiz Raja and Waqar Younis ahead of the toss.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said he was proud and excited to be leading his team on home soil, as international cricket returned to Karachi after a hiatus of nine years.

“It feels great to be playing on our home soil, in front of our home crowd,” the skipper said at the toss, adding that the pitch looked good for batting.

Playing XI

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (c, wk), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali

West Indies XI: Jason Mohammed (c), Andre Fletcher, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Keemo Paul, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kesrick Williams, V Permaul, Chadwick Walton, Rayad Emrit, Samuel Badree