Pakistan clean sweep West Indies in T20 series
KARACHI: Pakistan beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the third and final Twenty20 international in Karachi on Thursday, sweeping the series 3-0.
Mohammad Rizwan scored 87 and skipper Babar Azam hit 79 as Pakistan achieved their highest run-chase in all Twenty20 internationals by reaching the 208-run target in 18.5 overs.
Babar and Rizwan, who put on 158 for the opening wicket, registered their sixth century stand in T20 internationals — all this year. It is the most by any pair in the shortest format.
West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran struck a rapid 37-ball 64 to lead the tourists to 207-3 in their 20 overs after they won the toss and opted to bat.
Pakistan won the first match by 63 runs and the second by nine runs, also played in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the one-day international series between hosts Pakistan and the West Indies starting this weekend has been called off because of a Covid-19 outbreak among the visitors, officials from both sides said.
Five members of the West Indies squad — including three players — tested positive for Covid today, in addition to four cases reported at the weekend.
The three-match series, which was due to start Saturday, is part of the qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.
The matches will be rescheduled for June next year, a statement from officials said, adding the decision was taken to protect players and acknowledge the limited resources left in the West Indies squad.
