Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AFP

Pakistan defeated West Indies by 13 runs in the third and final T20I, securing the series 2-1. This win marked their seventh consecutive T20I series victory against the West Indies. The match had everything: a powerful opening stand, a slow mid-innings phase, a strong death overs finish, and a brilliant bowling performance to seal the deal.

Let’s break down the match step-by-step and understand how Pakistan outclassed the hosts in a thrilling contest.

Solid Opening: 138-Run Stand Between Ayub and Farhan

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat again—just like in the second match. But unlike that game, this time they didn’t lose early wickets. Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan started cautiously, focusing more on rotating the strike than hitting boundaries early on.

As the innings progressed, both openers settled in and began accelerating. They stitched a 138-run partnership—the highest of the series. Ayub scored 66 runs, and Farhan made 74. However, despite the big stand, Pakistan’s scoring rate stayed modest, around 8.5 runs per over till the 16th over.

It looked like Pakistan might end up 15-20 runs short of a competitive total unless they exploded at the end.

Late Acceleration: 53 Runs in Final Four Overs

Pakistan desperately needed big hits in the final overs. As soon as Farhan got out, young hitter Hasan Nawaz walked in and smashed a six on his fourth ball. Though he didn’t last long, he set the tone for the final push.

Pakistan didn’t hit a single four in the last four overs—but managed five sixes, including 20 runs in the final over, which pushed their total to a challenging 189 for 4. These late fireworks proved to be the game-changer.

West Indies Start Fast – But Fade Away

Chasing 190, the West Indies came out with an aggressive mindset. They scored 33 runs in the first two overs, immediately putting Pakistan on the back foot. The openers looked in control, and Pakistan’s bowlers were under pressure.

At the 16-over mark, West Indies were five runs ahead of Pakistan’s score at that stage and needed 49 from the final 4 overs. With Athanaze and Rutherford in form, it looked like the West Indies might snatch the series.

But cricket is a game of turning points—and that turn came in the 17th and 18th overs.

Muqeem and Rauf Seal the Deal for Pakistan

Haris Rauf bowled a fiery 17th over, putting pressure back on the batters. Then came the over of the match—left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem stepped in for the 18th and clean bowled Jason Holder with a magical flipper that skidded through and rattled the stumps. Holder was so stunned, he didn’t even realize he was bowled at first.

West Indies also made a rare move by retiring Roston Chase, who was struggling to score quickly. They brought in Holder to finish things off, but the plan backfired spectacularly.

After Muqeem’s over, the West Indies were completely derailed. Rauf returned to finish things off, and Pakistan kept control till the final ball.

 Final Score:

Pakistan – 189/4 (20 Overs)

• Saim Ayub – 66
• Sahibzada Farhan – 74
• Last 4 overs – 53 runs
• 20 runs in the final over

West Indies – 176/6 (20 Overs)

• Athanaze – 60
• Rutherford – 51
• Muqeem – 1 wicket for 20 runs
• Holder – Bowled for a duck

For West Indies, despite the early firepower, the lack of planning in the final overs cost them the match—and the series.