Hasan Nawaz Steers Pakistan to Thrilling Win Over West Indies
It was a night to remember in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, where Pakistan pulled off a composed yet thrilling five-wicket win over the West Indies in the first One-Day International of the series. Hasan Nawaz was the man of the moment, staying unbeaten on 63 runs, and it wasn’t just the numbers — it was the way he finished it off. With a six to keep the momentum alive and then the winning boundary in the second-to-last over, the job was sealed with style.
The chase began after West Indies were sent in to bat by Pakistan. The home side put up a competitive 280 on the board, thanks to some solid middle-order efforts. Evin Lewis, captain Shai Hope, and Roston Chase each reached their half-centuries, keeping the scoreboard ticking. But Pakistan’s bowlers ensured the total didn’t go beyond control. Shaheen Shah Afridi, with his trademark left-arm pace and movement, led the attack, picking up four wickets for 51 runs. Naseem Shah complemented him well with three wickets for 55. Their efforts meant Pakistan walked into the chase with belief.
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When Pakistan came out to bat, there was early pressure, but captain Mohammad Rizwan steadied things with a fluent 53. The middle overs were all about calculated batting — nothing flashy, just intelligent cricket. Hasan Nawaz, who would later be named player of the match, read the conditions perfectly. He mentioned afterward that the spinners were tricky early on, but once the dew set in, batting became a lot easier. From that point, his innings was a mix of patience and timely aggression, never letting the required run rate creep too high.
West Indies, to their credit, fought until the end. Their bowlers tried to make things happen, and Hope admitted after the match that the toss played a big part in the outcome. He felt the team could have pushed for more runs in the middle overs and that small lapses had left them “one step behind.”
In the end, Pakistan reached 284 for 5 with seven balls remaining, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win also built on the confidence they carried from winning the preceding T20 series 2-1 in Florida. With the second ODI scheduled for Sunday and the third on Tuesday, both at the Brian Lara Stadium, there’s everything to play for. And if Hasan Nawaz’s calm under pressure is anything to go by, Pakistan might just have found another match-winner for the big stage.
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