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LAUDERHILL: A disciplined all-round performance powered Pakistan to a 13-run win over West Indies in the third T20I at Central Broward Regional Park on Monday, sealing the three-match series 2-1.
Set a challenging target of 190, the hosts began with intent as they hammered 16 runs off Hasan Ali in the opening over.
The aggressive start saw openers Jewel Andrew and Alick Athanaze add 44 for the first wicket before Haris Rauf removed Andrew for 24 off 15 balls in the fifth over.
Athanaze kept the pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers, reaching his maiden T20I half-century off just 31 balls.
He stitched a 30-run partnership with captain Shai Hope (7) and followed it up with a 36-run stand alongside Sherfane Rutherford.
With West Indies cruising at 110-2 inside 13 overs, Saim Ayub provided a much-needed breakthrough for Pakistan by removing Athanaze for a well-compiled 60 off 40 deliveries.
Rutherford and Roston Chase kept the chase on course with a 39-run partnership, but the momentum shifted dramatically in the final overs.
Chase was retired out, and Sufiyan Muqeem dismissed Jason Holder for a golden duck, leaving the home side reeling at 149-5.
Rutherford’s late counterattack kept West Indies in the hunt, but with 26 needed from the final seven balls, his dismissal for a fighting 51 off 35 all but ended the contest. West Indies eventually fell short, finishing at 176-6.
Pakistan’s bowling unit shared the spoils, with Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, and Sufiyan Muqeem all chipping in with a wicket each.
Earlier, after opting to bat, Pakistan’s opening pair of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan provided a solid platform.
The left-right Pakistan duo negotiated the powerplay effectively, reaching a score of 47 without losing any wickets, much to the frustration of the West Indies bowlers.
Both batters reached their respective half-centuries and combined for a 138-run opening stand, the highest of the series.
Farhan was eventually dismissed in the 17th over for a fluent 74 off 53 balls, laced with three boundaries and five sixes.
Hassan Nawaz followed with a quick cameo of 15 off 7 before falling to Roston Chase, while Mohammad Haris was run out cheaply.
Ayub’s fine knock ended on 66 off 49 when he fell to Jason Holder, but the finishing touches were provided by Khushdil Shah (11* off 6) and Faheem Ashraf (10* off 3), lifting Pakistan to 189-4.
Holder, Chase, and Shamar Joseph picked up a wicket each for the West Indies.
Pakistan and West Indies will now turn their focus to the three-match ODI series, which gets underway on Friday in Trinidad.
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