Port of spain: Hasan Nawaz made a triumphant one-day international debut, going 63 not out to power Pakistan over West Indies by five wickets in their ODI series opener. Nawaz and Hussain Talat formed a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 104 not out to rally the visitors in the day-night affair.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, West Indies went 280 all out with Evin Lewis leading the way on 60 from 62 balls, hitting three sixes and five fours. Shai Hope added 55 runs, and Roston Chase contributed 53 to the hosts’ total. Pakistan, requiring 281 to win, saw Mohammad Rizwan score 53 before being dismissed lbw by Shamar Joseph in the 38th over, leaving the visitors 101 runs short of victory. This set the stage for the decisive contributions of Nawaz and Talat.
Nawaz struck a six on the second ball of the 49th over and sealed the win with a boundary off the final delivery by Joseph, securing Pakistan’s victory with seven balls to spare. Nawaz’s innings consisted of 63 runs off 54 balls, including three sixes and five fours, while Talat finished with 41 runs from 37 balls, hitting one six and four fours.
Pakistan’s decision to bowl first proved beneficial when Brandon King was dismissed for four on the fifth ball of the opening over, bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi and caught by Babar Azam. Afridi claimed four wickets in total during the match. Lewis’s innings ended in the 19th over, bowled by Saim Ayub and caught by Afridi.
West Indies captain Hope was removed in the 41st over by Afridi, caught by Rizwan, leaving the hosts at 200 for five. Romario Shepherd was dismissed for four in the 43rd over. Chase managed a half-century but was caught by Azam, bowled by Naseem Shah, who also took the final two wickets of Gudakesh Motie and Jediah Blades.