WI vs PAK 2025, 1st T20I Overview: Guests 1-0 up as Saim Ayub shines in series-opener | CricTracker

Pakistan secured a 14-run victory within the first T20I of the three-match sequence to kickstart their 2025 tour of West Indies on a constructive be aware. The hosts suffered their sixth consecutive defeat within the shortest format of the sport after getting whitewashed by Australia within the recently-concluded five-match sequence.

Being requested to bat first, the Males in Inexperienced obtained off to fairly a full of life begin, with 26 being scored off the primary three overs. Windies pacer Shamar Joseph struck with the second ball of his spell to eliminate Sahibzada Farhan (14 off 12) by trapping him in entrance, conceding solely a run to start out off. Boundaries have been common because the guests have been 83 for 1 midway via the innings.

Saim Ayub introduced up his second half-century in T20 internationals in the identical over through which he struck his first couple of maximums. He, nevertheless, didn’t last more on the crease thereafter, falling at 57 off 38 deliveries. Simply as Fakhar Zaman appeared to speed up from his gradual begin, he perished for 28 off 24. The innings obtained a little bit of a lift after 10 runs have been scored in every of the fifteenth and sixteenth overs.

Akeal Hosein secured his first breakthrough in his closing over within the type of Hasan Nawaz (24 off 18). West Indies did fairly effectively to limit Pakistan to a sub-200 whole. At one level, it appeared as if they might get to that. Nonetheless, some correct bowling within the loss of life overs meant Agha Salman-led aspect might rating solely 178/6.

Caribbeans’ sedated begin marred with collapses

The Caribbean openers scored another run than the opposition inside the primary six overs, with out shedding any wicket. The following 4 overs have been opposite to the powerplay part. Pakistan utilized the squeeze on the Males in Maroon courtesy of some tight bowling. There have been no boundaries which have been scored for 4 overs for the reason that powerplay because the required run-rate climbed to 11.60 with ten overs to go.

Identified for his assertive model of cricket with the bat, Johnson Charles had performed an uncharacteristically subdued innings by the 10-over mark, scoring solely 26* off 30. Regardless of a six being hit off the ultimate ball of Sufiyan Muqeem’s third over, there was nonetheless lots to do for West Indies with a view to even come shut, and stay effectively and actually within the competitors.

The whole complexion of the match modified within the twelfth over of the run-chase, bowled by Mohammad Nawaz. His triple-strikes to dismiss the opening batters and Gudakesh Motie (0 off 1) completely derailed the Shai Hope-led unit’s effort. Ayub might do no mistaken, as he struck in his first over to eliminate the Caribbean captain for a paltry rating of simply 2 from three deliveries.

Late blows from Holder-Shamar

Ayub’s second wicket was that of Sherfane Rutherford, who headed again after a run-a-ball 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Muqeem picked up their first wickets of the night within the sixteenth and seventeenth overs, respectively. West Indies’ chase was going nowhere. They required 65 off the final three overs with solely three wickets within the tank.

Jason Holder and Shamar tried their stage greatest clubbing the ball to and over the ropes, nevertheless it was all a case of ‘too little, too late’. Each of them aggregated a complete of 51 off simply 24. Nonetheless, the collapse throughout the center part had a left a bit an excessive amount of to do for the again finish of the innings, because the visiting aspect gained a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence. The following sport will now be performed on Sunday, and the hosts would wish to stage a comeback with sequence on the road.

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