West Indies slump to massive defeat by 143 runs in the first T20
A wretched bowling performance from West Indies began with Samuel Badree, Keemo Paul, and Riyad Emrit well off their lines and lengths, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam easily finding the gaps to take advantage of the fielding restrictions, as Pakistan sped to 56 for 1 in the first six overs. Pakistan continued along their merry way, never encumbered by tricky bowling or intelligent field setting. The quality of fielding from the tourists was amateur, singles on several occasions turning into boundaries as fielders under no pressure whatsoever let balls slip through their fingers.
Even when West Indies managed to take wickets, it wasn't down to the skill of the bowling. Until the 17th over, just three wickets and fallen, two of them to run-outs. Debutant Hussain Talat, who looked excellent as he top-scored with 41, was unfortunate enough to be involved in two mix-ups, the first one putting paid to Fakhar's bright start, while a collision between Sarfraz Ahmed and Kesrick Williams meant Talat himself was left stranded mid-pitch.
After a rare spell around the death overs in which West Indies looked to be reining Pakistan in somewhat, the shackles broke again in the penultimate over. What followed devastated West Indies and was arguably responsible for taking the wind out of their sails, even for the second innings. As Faheem Ashraf and Shoaib Malik freed their arms for a final flourish, Emrit and Williams found themselves helpless to stop the carnage. A whopping 41 runs came off the last ten balls as Pakistan surged to their joint-highest T20I total, setting West Indies a target of 204.Pakistan won by 143 runs!— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) April 1, 2018
OUT! 13.4 Hussain Talat to Samuel Badree
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/v4xextiswn#PAKvWI #ApnaKhelApneGhar @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/Gl5FBS3WiG
It was like bringing a gun to a knife fight; they needn't have bothered with such a vertigo-inducing total. The six that Chadwick Walton hit Mohammad Nawaz for off the first ball was a false dawn as West Indies quickly began to unravel. Other than Walton and Marlon Samuels, no one in the top five scored a single run. Andre Fletcher and Jason Mohammed looked to be giving Hussain Talat catching practice at the cover, both falling in Mohammad Amir's first over. Denesh Ramdin, underwhelming in the PSL, didn't trouble the scorers either, holing out to midwicket, and when Samuels top-edged a big heave off Nawaz, the visitors had slumped to 33 for 6, and the contest was descending into farce.
OUT! 12.2 Shoaib Malik to Rayad Emrit— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) April 1, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/v4xextiswn#PAKvWI #ApnaKhelApneGhar @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/xoQ3Mt1mzz
Shoaib Malik removed the next two off consecutive deliveries just after West Indies crossed 50. Particularly since West Indies were one man short; Permaul had injured his foot while bowling and didn’t bat.
At last with the score at 60, the last wicket fell, condemning West Indies to a slew of unwanted records: their lowest T20I score and the largest margin of defeat between two Full Members among the more ignominious ones.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said he was proud and excited to be leading his team on home soil, as international cricket returned to Karachi after a hiatus of nine years.
“It feels great to be playing on our home soil, in front of our home crowd”, the Captain said at the toss, adding that the pitch looked good for batting.
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