Trinidad (Web Desk): Pakistan kicked off their three-match ODI campaign against the West Indies in style, securing a composed five-wicket win at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
It was a chase that ebbed and flowed, but ultimately, the calm heads of debutant Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat anchored the visitors to a comfortable finish with seven balls to spare.
Set a target of 281 after the hosts posted 280 in 48.5 overs, Pakistan stumbled early. Opener Saim Ayub departed cheaply, managing just five before Jayden Seales found his edge in the third over.
At 16 for 1, the momentum appeared with the West Indies. However, Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam began to steady the innings, adding 47 for the second wicket before Shafique’s stay ended on 29 from 33 balls, having struck three boundaries and a six.
Babar, who looked in fine touch, partnered with captain Mohammad Rizwan to push the innings forward. The pair compiled a 55-run stand, carefully rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries.
Babar, inching towards yet another fifty, was dismissed on 47, undone by some clever bowling from Gudakesh Motie who lured him down the track and had him stumped, leaving Pakistan 118 for 3 in the 24th over.
Salman Ali Agha came in with intent and chipped in with a handy 23 from 26 balls, but Roston Chase halted his progress. At 158 for 4, the match still hung in the balance. Rizwan continued to accumulate runs steadily, reaching his 16th ODI half-century with typical grit, before falling to Shamar Joseph for 53 from 69 balls, leaving the score at 180 for 5 in the 38th over.
What followed was a mature and match-defining effort from the untested pairing of Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat. In his debut innings, Nawaz displayed composure beyond his years.
He benefitted from a slice of luck when Motie dropped a regulation chance at slip just before he reached his maiden fifty. That reprieve proved costly for the West Indies, as Nawaz pushed on to finish unbeaten on 63 off 54 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
Talat offered perfect support, adding 41 not out from 37 balls, featuring four fours and a six. Together, they stitched an unbroken 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket, ensuring Pakistan crossed the finish line in the 49th over.
Earlier in the day, West Indies had put together a competitive total after losing Brandon King in the opening over to a sharp Shaheen Afridi delivery. Evin Lewis counterattacked with a lively 60 off 62 balls, smashing five fours and three sixes. His stand with Keacy Carty helped the hosts recover early momentum. Skipper Shai Hope kept the scoreboard ticking with a patient 55 from 77 deliveries and shared a 64-run stand with Roston Chase, who himself scored a well-paced 53 off 54.
The lower order chipped in effectively, with Gudakesh Motie swinging freely in the final overs to add a quickfire 31 from 18 balls, including three fours and a couple of sixes. Pakistan’s bowling unit was led by Shaheen Afridi, who claimed 4 for 51 in eight overs.
Naseem Shah was also instrumental, picking up 3 for 55, while Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Salman Ali Agha contributed a wicket each.
In the post-match media talk, skipper Rizwan credited the lower middle-order resilience, singling out Nawaz and Talat for their temperament under pressure. He acknowledged some lapses in the death overs with the ball and called for improvement in execution towards the end of the innings.
Reflecting on the change in dynamics due to the use of a single ball after the 34th over, Rizwan noted that the bowlers were optimistic, believing it allowed for reverse swing and changed the rhythm of their spells.
With this result, Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series, heading into the second ODI on Sunday with the momentum firmly in their favour.