An outstanding, undefeated 104-run partnership between the promising debutant Hasan Nawaz and the steadily experienced Hussain Talat, who was playing only his second match, steered a tense Pakistan through a rocky period.
They managed to chase down 281 runs in the second-to-last over, seizing a 1-0 advantage in the ODI series with a thrilling five-wicket triumph.
The West Indies had earlier posted a competitive total of 280, featuring three notable half-centuries in their innings. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, applied crucial pressure, restricting the hosts to a below-par score. Shaheen Shah Afridi, with impressive figures of 4 for 51, and Naseem Shah, who took 3 wickets for 55 runs, executed a stellar job of cleaning up in the latter stages.
Pakistan’s attempt was anything but smooth, as they wrestled with the pace of their innings. Babar Azam contributed a composed 47, and Mohammad Rizwan added a valuable 53, though they weren’t able to extend their innings as desired.
West Indies had a glimmer of hope when Rizwan departed and Pakistan still needed 101 more runs, digging into the lower order. Yet, it was Nawaz who, despite early anxiety and a few fortuitous reprieves thanks to dropped catches, flipped the script with a commanding 63 not out. He concluded the chase with an assured panache, supported by the steady and resilient Talat, who scored a confident 41 not out off just 37 balls.