Pakistan kicked off their three-match ODI series against the West Indies with a commanding five-wicket victory on Friday, powered by half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and debutant Hassan Nawaz at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Chasing 281, Pakistan faced an early blow when opener Saim Ayub fell for just five runs to Jayden Seales in the third over. Abdullah Shafique (29 off 33) and Babar Azam then stitched together a 47-run partnership before Shafique’s dismissal left Pakistan at 63-2.
Babar, playing with his trademark calm, added 55 with Rizwan, but fell just short of a fifty — stumped for 47 off Gudakesh Motie’s bowling — leaving the visitors at 118-3 in the 24th over. Salman Ali Agha’s brief cameo of 23 kept the chase ticking before Rizwan brought up his 16th ODI fifty.
Hassan Nawaz and Talat seal the deal
Rizwan’s departure at 180-5 in the 38th over brought Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Talat together. The pair batted with maturity, putting on an unbeaten 104-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Hassan reached his maiden ODI fifty — aided by a dropped catch — and finished unbeaten on 63 from 54 balls, striking five fours and three sixes. Talat’s steady 41* from 37 balls ensured Pakistan reached the target in 48.5 overs.
West Indies innings anchored by hope and chase
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan a dream start by dismissing Brandon King for four. Evin Lewis (60 off 62) and Keacy Carty offered resistance before Saim Ayub broke the stand.
West Indies captain Shai Hope anchored the innings with 55, sharing a 64-run stand with Roston Chase, who made a brisk 53. Gudakesh Motie’s late cameo of 31 from 18 balls lifted the hosts to 280, but they were bowled out in the 49th over.
Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling with 4-51, supported by Naseem Shah’s 3-55, while Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Salman Ali Agha took one wicket each.
With this win, Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second ODI scheduled for Sunday.
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