Pakistan seal T20I series with tense 13-run victory against West Indies

LAUDERHILL: Pakistan wrapped up a 2-1 win in the three-match T20I series against West Indies by clinching the third and final game by 13 runs on Monday at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground.Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan gave their side an ideal launchpad.

The pair put the West Indies bowlers under pressure early, guiding Pakistan to 47 without loss at the end of the powerplay. Their stand continued to flourish, with Farhan notching up his third T20I half-century in the 11th over as the score reached 88-0.

Ayub soon followed suit with his third T20I fifty, pushing Pakistan to 108-0 in the 13th over.The commanding 138-run opening stand finally ended in the 17th over when Shamar Joseph removed Farhan for a composed 74 off 53 balls, laced with three boundaries and five sixes.

Hassan Nawaz added quick runs with a cameo of 15 from seven deliveries before Roston Chase sent him back.

Mohammad Haris was run out cheaply for two in the next over, and Ayub’s impressive knock ended on 66 off 49 balls when Jason Holder claimed his wicket, leaving Pakistan on 170-4.

In the final over, Khushdil Shah (11* off 6) and Faheem Ashraf (10* off 3) contributed valuable late runs to lift Pakistan to a competitive 189-4.

In reply, West Indies began aggressively, smashing 16 runs off the first over and racing to 33-0 in just two overs.

Openers Jewel Andrew and Alick Athanaze stitched together a 44-run stand before Haris Rauf broke through in the fifth over to dismiss Andrew for 24 off 15 balls.Athanaze carried on the charge, bringing up his maiden T20I fifty off 31 balls. Alongside skipper Shai Hope, he kept the hosts in the hunt at 98-2 after 11 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz provided the crucial breakthrough by removing Hope, and Saim Ayub struck again in the 13th over to dismiss Athanaze for a fine 60 off 40, leaving West Indies at 110-3.

Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase tried to steady the innings with a determined stand, edging West Indies closer to the target.

However, a double blow stalled the chase—Chase retired out, and Sufiyan Muqeem sent Jason Holder back for a duck, reducing the hosts to 149-5 in 17.2 overs.

Rutherford battled on, bringing up his fifty to keep the fight alive with 26 runs needed off the final seven deliveries.

But his dismissal in the last over for a hard-fought 51 off 35 balls sealed the West Indies’ fate, as they fell short at 176-6.Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Saim Ayub all chipped in with a wicket each for Pakistan.

This result handed West Indies their second straight T20I series defeat, while Pakistan celebrated a hard-earned away series triumph.