In Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, cricket fans witnessed an exciting match on Friday as Pakistan claimed victory over the West Indies in the first match of their One Day International (ODI) series. The hero of the day was Hasan Nawaz, who was making his ODI debut for Pakistan. He scored an unbeaten 63 runs and played a key role in guiding his team to a five-wicket win.
The match took place in a day-and-night format, which means it began in the afternoon and ended under the floodlights. With two more games left in the series — one on Sunday and the final on Tuesday — Pakistan has made a strong start.
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West Indies Set a Competitive Target
Pakistan’s captain won the toss and decided to bowl first, which means they wanted West Indies to bat first. This decision paid off early in the game when Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled out Brandon King for just four runs in the very first over. King’s wicket was caught by Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain. This early breakthrough gave Pakistan a confidence boost right at the start.
Despite the early setback, West Indies’ batsmen fought back. Evin Lewis was the top scorer for the hosts, making 60 runs off 62 balls. His innings included three powerful sixes and five boundaries. Shai Hope, the West Indies captain, also played well, scoring 55 runs. Another important contribution came from Roston Chase, who made 53 runs.
The West Indies middle order tried to maintain the scoring rate, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial moments. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets. Naseem Shah and Saim Ayub also chipped in with important breakthroughs.
Key Moments in West Indies’ Innings
One of the turning points in the West Indies’ innings was when Lewis, who looked set for a big score, was dismissed on the very last ball of the 19th over. Saim Ayub bowled him, and Shaheen Afridi took the catch.
Later in the innings, Shai Hope was bowled by Shaheen Afridi on the second ball of the 41st over. Rizwan took the catch, and the West Indies were left struggling at 200 for five wickets. Romario Shepherd, another key player for the hosts, was dismissed for only four runs in the 43rd over.
Roston Chase brought some hope for the West Indies with his half-century, but he too was dismissed soon after, caught by Babar Azam off the bowling of Naseem Shah. Naseem then bowled out Gudakesh Motie and Jediah Blades on consecutive deliveries, wrapping up the West Indies innings.
The West Indies ended their innings at 280 all out, which was a challenging score but not unreachable for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Chase Gets Off to a Steady Start
Chasing 281 runs to win, Pakistan needed a solid batting performance. The start was steady, with Mohammad Rizwan playing an important role. Rizwan scored 53 runs before being dismissed lbw by Shamar Joseph in the 38th over. At that point, Pakistan still needed 101 runs to win, and the match was evenly balanced.
It was here that Hasan Nawaz, playing his very first ODI, came to the crease and made a huge impact. He joined Hussain Talat, and together they formed a partnership that changed the course of the game.
Nawaz and Talat’s Match-Winning Partnership
Nawaz and Talat put together an unbeaten partnership of 104 runs for the sixth wicket. They played smart cricket, balancing the need to score runs with careful shot selection to avoid losing wickets. Nawaz, in particular, showed maturity beyond his years.
He faced 54 balls, hitting three sixes and five fours. His six on the second ball of the 49th over brought Pakistan closer to victory, and his boundary off the final delivery by Shamar Joseph sealed the win with seven balls to spare.
Hussain Talat also played a key role, scoring 41 runs from 37 balls, including one six and four boundaries. Together, their calm yet aggressive approach ensured Pakistan crossed the finish line without any more hiccups.
Bowling Highlights for Pakistan
Pakistan’s bowling was the foundation for this win. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the star with four wickets, including two key dismissals of West Indies captain Shai Hope and opener Brandon King. Naseem Shah’s late wickets were crucial in stopping West Indies from pushing their score higher.
Saim Ayub also made his presence felt with the important dismissal of Evin Lewis. Overall, the bowling attack worked well together, taking wickets at the right times and keeping the pressure on.
Why This Win Matters for Pakistan
This victory is significant for Pakistan for several reasons:
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A Winning Start to the Series – Taking the lead in a three-match series gives Pakistan a big psychological advantage.
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Young Talent Shines – Hasan Nawaz’s performance will boost the team’s confidence and show that new players can handle pressure.
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Team Effort – From Shaheen Afridi’s bowling to Talat’s batting, every department contributed to the win.
Hasan Nawaz – A New Star for Pakistan?
Making your debut in international cricket is never easy, especially in a pressure situation. But Hasan Nawaz handled it with confidence and skill. His ability to stay calm and play big shots when needed shows he has the potential to become a regular match-winner for Pakistan.
Scoring 63 not out in your first game and hitting the winning runs is a dream debut for any cricketer. His performance will surely be remembered for a long time by fans.
What’s Next in the Series
The second match of the series will be played on Sunday, and the third and final ODI will take place on Tuesday. With Pakistan leading 1-0, West Indies will be eager to fight back and level the series. On the other hand, Pakistan will look to seal the series with another win.
Both teams have shown they have strong batting and bowling line-ups, so fans can expect more exciting cricket in the days to come.
Final Score Summary
West Indies: 280 all out (Evin Lewis 60, Shai Hope 55, Roston Chase 53; Shaheen Afridi 4 wickets)
Pakistan: 281/5 (Hasan Nawaz 63*, Hussain Talat 41*, Mohammad Rizwan 53; Shamar Joseph 1 wicket)
Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets with 7 balls remaining.
