Providence (Guyana), Aug 1: Pakistan survived Nicholas Pooran’s late blitz to beat West Indies by seven runs in the second Twenty20 and go 1-0 up in the four-match series.
Left-handed Pooran smashed six sixes and four boundaries on Saturday but his unbeaten 62 could carry the West Indies to only 150-4. Pakistan was put into bat first and scored 157-8 with Babar Azam (51) top scoring.
Jason Holder grabbed 4-26 and Dwayne Bravo got the wickets of Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman off successive deliveries as Pakistan lost six wickets for 23 runs in their last four overs.
Rizwan and Azam combined in a 67-run second wicket stand before Rizwan was run out in the 15th over. Holder returned in the 17th over and Azam was out caught behind after a television referral.
The West Indies power-hitters couldn’t mount a charge against the experienced offspin of Hafeez, who conceded just six runs off his four overs and clean-bowled Andre Fletcher with his second delivery. When Ewin Lewis had to retire hurt due to cramps after scoring 35, West Indies still needed 82 runs off the last six overs.
While Kieron Pollard couldn’t find boundaries against the pace, Pooran timed the ball well and hit several sixes.
The first T20 was washed out in Barbados on Wednesday. Guyana hosts the remaining two T20s on Sunday and next Tuesday, followed by a two-Test series in Jamaica.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 157/8 in 20 overs
(B Azam 51, M Rizwan 46; J Holder 4/26)
West Indies 150/4 in 20 overs
(N Pooran 62, E Lewis 35; M Hafeez 1/6). (AP)
