Pakistan Outplay West Indies in T20I Opener
The energy at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida hit new heights as Pakistan kicked off their 2025 T20I tour against the West Indies in style. The visitors bagged a 14-run victory, giving their fans plenty to cheer about while adding to the woes of a West Indies side searching for answers in the shortest format.
Pushed into bat first, Pakistan showed grit and flair. Saim Ayub sent pulses racing early on, making the most of a lively pitch. He cracked a quick-fire 57 from just 38 balls, peppering the boundary with five crisp fours and launching two sixes over the ropes. Ayub made scoring look easy against the new ball, and though he lost his opening partner Sahibzada Farhan for 14, the tempo never dipped. Fakhar Zaman then picked up the baton, notching a steady 28 and anchoring the innings as wickets fell at the other end.
Paksitan's total really got its wings during the death overs. Hasan Nawaz smashed a run-a-ball 24, hammering boundaries right when the side needed late inspiration. Faheem Ashraf chipped in too, with a speedy 16 off just eight balls, making sure Pakistan didn’t lose steam at the finish line. By the time 20 overs ticked over, the scoreboard read a competitive 178 for six.
West Indies' Misery Continues as Pakistan’s Spinners Dominate
The West Indies, tasked with chasing 179, flattered to deceive. Things started on a decent note with Johnson Charles finding the middle early on, posting a sharp 35. Runs came in spurts but never with fluency. Wickets tumbled when it mattered most, and Pakistan’s bowlers squeezed the life out of the innings every time the pressure threatened to lift.
If Saim Ayub shone with the bat, Mohammad Nawaz delivered with the ball. He ripped through the heart of West Indies’ middle order, grabbing three wickets for just 23 runs. Nawaz’s spell ensured that the Windies’ chase never really stabilized. Sufiyan Muqeem kept things tidy with his left-arm chinaman, conceding only 20 in his four overs and picking up a key wicket to break a building stand.
Ayub wasn’t done after batting. He rolled his arm over, delivering part-time spin that stunned the hosts by nabbing two late wickets, including the crucial dismissal of a well-set Charles. Only Alzarri Joseph showed resistance at the end, finishing unbeaten on 26, but he never found the partner or rhythm to pull off a late escape. West Indies closed at 164 for seven, falling 14 short and staring at another frustrating result.
Pakistan’s collective show of skill left no doubt about their dominance, while another defeat will leave West Indies fans frustrated with the state of their T20I campaign. Ayub’s all-round impact earned him Player of the Match and injects fresh excitement into the squad. The action now moves to the remaining two games in the U.S., with the hosts hoping for a quick turnaround and a bit of redemption.
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