Pakistan 178 for 6 (Ayub 57, Shamar 3-30) beat West Indies 164 for 7 (Andrew 35, Charles 35, Nawaz 3-23) by 14 runs
Pakistan claimed a 14-run win in the first T20I against West Indies in Lauderhill, in a match that was far more one-sided than the final scoreline suggested. The game was defined by Pakistan’s spin attack, which broke the backbone of the West Indies’ chase during the middle overs and helped the visitors cruise to victory.
Pakistan posted a competitive total, thanks to a composed half-century from Saim Ayub and valuable lower-order cameos. While the West Indies bowlers kept things tight on a surface that favoured slower deliveries, Pakistan managed to keep the runs flowing steadily. After Jason Holder dismissed Ayub for 57, impactful knocks from Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, and a one-ball six from Mohammad Haris helped Pakistan collect 58 runs in the final 31 balls.
West Indies approached the chase with intent and maturity during the power play but struggled to maintain momentum once the field spread out. The spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Ayub applied the brakes on the scoring rate, while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s accuracy and control ensured pressure from both ends. As the required rate climbed, the home side found themselves running out of overs and wickets.
Jason Holder’s late onslaught — an unbeaten 30 off just 12 balls, including four sixes — gave West Indies a strong finish, adding 38 runs in the last two overs. However, by then, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Ayub shines with bat and ball
Sent in to bat first, Pakistan’s top order all got starts, but their strike rates remained modest. Sahibzada Farhan fell early to Shamar Joseph, who also removed Fakhar Zaman after a sluggish 28 off 24 balls. Most of the top six batted with strike rates between 110 and 133.33 — below par by modern T20 standards — but Ayub stood out.
After a slow start, Ayub shifted gears with a boundary at the end of the ninth over. He followed that with a four off Romario Shepherd and then smashed two sixes in a 20-run over from Jediah Blades to bring up his fifty. His final 28 runs came off just 13 balls, lifting Pakistan’s scoring rate above nine runs an over. When handed the ball, Ayub also chipped in with two overs and took a wicket in each, completing a fine all-round performance.
Early platform, sudden collapse
West Indies’ chase began well, with a solid 72-run opening partnership. They chose to see off Afridi’s early overs cautiously, scoring just five off his two powerplay overs, while targeting others. Nawaz’s second over went for 11 runs, and Johnson Charles took 10 off Haris Rauf’s first.
But as soon as the power play ended and the field spread out, Pakistan tightened its grip. Rauf followed up with a seven-run over, and the spinners took control. In the eight overs following the powerplay, West Indies scored just 37 runs and lost four wickets — a collapse that left them with little room to launch a comeback.
Nawaz turns the game with a triple blow
The pressure built after the power play led to a decisive moment in Nawaz’s final over. He broke the opening stand by dismissing debutant Jewel Andrew, who holed out to long-off. Two balls later, Johnson Charles tried to clear the rope, but a brilliant save by Shaheen Afridi at the cow corner denied him a six. Charles fell next ball, top-edging to the keeper. Then, Gudakesh Motie was caught at deep midwicket, giving Nawaz his third wicket.