MULTAN: Pakistan bowlers displayed brilliance after the fifties from the captain Babar Azam and the left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq to propel their side to seal a massive victory over West Indies in the second ODI and lead the three-match series 2-0.
Set to chase a commendable 276, the West Indian batting line-up failed and could only score 155 before being bowled out in the 33rd over.
The side were off to a flying start despite losing their last match centurion Shai Hope in the first over as Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks carried the run chase alive as they both ticked the scoreboard at a rapid pace.
The pair appeared solid and almost took the game away from Pakistan before 10 overs as they were scoring at more than six runs per over.
Pakistan captain Babar’s tactics worked for him as his idea of introducing the young pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr proved out to be fruitful as the latter removed the dangerous Mayers in the 10th over. Mayers scored a quick 33 off just 25 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.
Following his departure, the touring side proceeded to lose wickets at an alarming rate, falling from 71-1 to 120-7 in a matter of a few overs as their captain Nicholas Pooran also made his way back after scoring 25.
The tailenders then attempted to retaliate but they too could not survive for long against the strong Pakistan bowling attack and the West Indies, in the end, were bowled for a mere 155 runs; handing a massive 120-run victory to Pakistan.
For Pakistan, Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers with his career-best bowling figures as he claimed four wickets for a mere 19 runs, while Wasim Jr and Shadab Khan claimed three and two wickets respectively. Shaheen Shah Afridi, on the other hand, made one scalp.
Coming out to bat, Pakistan openers again failed to provide a solid start to the side as Fakhar Zaman departed early in the seventh over after mistiming the pull short. He made 17 runs off 28 balls and smashed three boundaries.
Following his dismissal, the skipper Babar Azam and the left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq again anchored the innings with their overall fourth century-plus stand in ODI cricket.
The pair appeared firm as both scored the fifties and were eyeing their respective centuries before Imam lost his wicket after a mix-up. He scored a run-a-ball 72 with the help of six boundaries.
Following Imam’s dismissal, Babar put on a brief partnership with Mohammad Rizwan. The pair, however, could only add 42 runs for the third wicket as Babar fell against West Indies’ hero with the ball – Akeal Hosein. The right-handed batter top-scored for the side with 77 off 93 balls, laced with five boundaries and a six.
The Green Shirts began to lose wickets at an alarming rate as Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, and Mohammad Nawaz departed in just four overs.
With the side struggling at 207-6 in the 40th over, gritty cameos from Shadab Khan and Khushdil Shah avoided the wickets spree; scoring 22 each.
The right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr and Shaheen Shah Afridi then also added valuable runs in the death overs and boosted the home side’s total to 275-8 in the allotted 50 overs.
Wasim remained unbeaten with his quick 17 off just 13 deliveries, while Shaheen scored 15 not-out on a mere six balls.
For the West Indies, Hosein led the way with three wickets, while Alzarri Joseph and Anderson Phillip bagged two wickets each.
