Pakistan edged out West Indies by 13 runs to claim a 2-1 series win, continuing their dominance in bilateral T20I series between the two sides. This result marks the seventh consecutive series victory for Pakistan in this fixture.
The visitors were powered by a commanding 138-run opening stand between Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, which laid the foundation for a competitive total of 190. Despite lacking explosive acceleration through the early and middle overs, Pakistan made up for it with a strong finish, hitting five sixes in the final four overs and adding 53 runs during that period. The innings culminated in a 20-run final over, proving decisive in a tightly contested game.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Pakistan avoided the early wickets that had set them back in the previous game. Ayub and Farhan played with composure, if not outright aggression, as they built steadily. Both reached half-centuries, but a series of dot balls and singles kept the run rate in check, sitting at just 8.50 with four overs remaining.
The breakthrough came when Farhan was dismissed by Shamar Joseph. Hasan Nawaz then entered and struck two sixes to inject much-needed urgency into the innings. Although no fours were recorded in the death overs, the momentum had shifted in Pakistan’s favour.
In response, West Indies came out swinging, hammering 33 runs in the first two overs and appearing well-placed to chase the target. However, Pakistan’s bowlers began to claw things back. Haris Rauf produced a pivotal 17th over before Sufiyan Muqeem followed up with a superb display that removed Jason Holder for a two-ball duck. It was a turning point from which West Indies never recovered.
With 49 runs required off the final four overs, West Indies were slightly ahead of Pakistan’s scoring at the same stage, but the combination of Rauf and Muqeem proved too strong. The hosts faltered in the face of consistent and disciplined bowling, their challenge gradually slipping away.
One of the more intriguing moments came when Roston Chase, struggling for timing with the asking rate soaring, was retired out in favour of Holder. The decision, bold in its intent, backfired when Muqeem bowled Holder with a sharp flipper. The ball skidded through and knocked back the off stump before the batsman had fully processed what had happened. West Indies could not mount a meaningful recovery. The final overs were marked by desperate hitting that fell short, and Pakistan held their nerve to secure the win.
While the 138-run opening partnership gave Pakistan a platform, it also sparked familiar questions around whether such long stands without greater acceleration can be counterproductive. Ultimately, however, the timing of the wicket allowed their finishers to have an impact and push the total beyond West Indies’ reach.