Shaheen, Hassan Nawaz power Pakistan to victory in West Indies series opener
Pakistan kicked off their three-match ODI series against the West Indies with a convincing five-wicket triumph at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Friday.
The win was set up by half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and debutant Hassan Nawaz, along with valuable contributions from Babar Azam and Hussain Talat.
Chasing 281, Pakistan suffered an early jolt when opener Saim Ayub fell for just five to Jayden Seales in the third over, leaving the visitors at 16-1.
Abdullah Shafique joined Babar Azam to steady the innings with a 47-run stand for the second wicket. Shafique’s promising knock of 29 off 33 balls — laced with three boundaries and a six — was cut short, making it 63-2.
Babar and Rizwan then added 55 for the third wicket, keeping Pakistan’s chase on track. Babar, closing in on a half-century, was dismissed for 47 (64 balls, five fours, one six) when he was stumped off Gudakesh Motie, leaving Pakistan at 118-3 in the 24th over.
Salman Ali Agha chipped in with 23 from 26 deliveries before falling to Roston Chase. Rizwan, unfazed, brought up his 16th ODI fifty in partnership with Hassan Nawaz.
Their stand of 22 ended when Shamar Joseph dismissed Rizwan for 53 off 69 balls (four fours), with the score at 180-5 in the 38th over.
From there, debutant Hassan Nawaz and all-rounder Hussain Talat combined for an unbroken century stand to seal the win. Hassan reached his maiden ODI fifty with some luck after being dropped by Motie at slip, eventually finishing unbeaten on 63 from 54 balls (five fours, three sixes). Talat supported with 41* off 37 balls (four fours, one six), as Pakistan overhauled the target in 48.5 overs.
Earlier, batting first, West Indies lost Brandon King in the opening over to Shaheen Afridi. Evin Lewis and Keacy Carty rebuilt with a half-century stand before Lewis departed for 60 off 62 balls (five fours, three sixes) to Saim Ayub.
Captain Shai Hope anchored the innings with 55 from 77 balls, adding 64 with Chase. Roston Chase contributed a brisk 53 off 54 before being removed by Naseem Shah, while Motie provided late impetus with a fiery 31 off 18 balls (three fours, two sixes), pushing the hosts to 280 all out in the 49th over.
Shaheen Afridi led the bowling attack with 4-51 from eight overs, while Naseem Shah took 3-55. Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one wicket each.
With this result, Pakistan lead the series 1-0, with the second ODI scheduled for Sunday.
