West Indies held their nerve in a tense finish to edge past Pakistan by two wickets in the second T20 International on Sunday, levelling the three-match series 1-1 at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground.
Chasing a modest 134-run target, the hosts stumbled early but recovered in the closing stages, thanks to a composed unbeaten knock by Jason Holder and a handy contribution from Romario Shepherd. The match now sets up a series decider on Monday at the same venue.
Earlier, Holder led the West Indies’ bowling charge with a brilliant 4-19 to restrict Pakistan to 133-9 after the visitors opted to bat first. He returned later with the bat to anchor the nervy chase with an unbeaten 16, hitting the winning boundary off the final delivery.
Pakistan struck early with the ball as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz removed Alick Athanaze for 2 in the second over and followed up with the dismissal of debutant Jewel Andrew (12) in the fourth. The visitors tightened their grip when Saim Ayub, introduced in the middle overs, dismissed Sherfane Rutherford and later Roston Chase to leave West Indies wobbling at 61-5 in the 13th over.
The turning point came when left-hander Gudakesh Motie played a brisk hand, hammering 28 off 20 balls, including two sixes off Hasan Ali in a crucial 16th over. His innings gave the Caribbean side hope before a mix-up saw him run out by Mohammad Haris.
At 98-7 in the 17th over, the match was delicately poised. Needing 36 runs from 18 deliveries, Holder and Shepherd held firm. A wayward penultimate over from Hasan Ali shifted momentum as Holder capitalised with a boundary and a six, reducing the equation to 8 off 6.
Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Shepherd (15 off 11) in the final over, but Holder’s calm presence proved decisive as he guided the side home off the last ball.
Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with a miserly 3-14 in four overs. Saim Ayub claimed 2-20 while Muqeem and Shaheen bagged one each.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s top order crumbled under disciplined bowling from the West Indies after winning the toss. Holder struck twice in his opening spell to remove openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan cheaply, while Akeal Hosein dismissed Haris, reducing the visitors to 21-3.
Captain Agha Salman and Fakhar Zaman attempted a rebuild, but Chase broke their 32-run stand by dismissing Fakhar for 20.
Salman then found support in Hassan Nawaz, who injected much-needed momentum with a fiery 40 off 23 balls, featuring three sixes in a single over. Their 60-run partnership steadied Pakistan, but Holder returned to break through again, removing Hassan in the 16th over.
Motie compounded Pakistan’s troubles by removing Salman (38 off 33) and Faheem Ashraf on consecutive deliveries. Holder picked up his fourth by removing Mohammad Nawaz, before Shamar Joseph wrapped up the innings by dismissing Hasan Ali for eight.
Pakistan finished on 133-9 with Shaheen (2*) and Muqeem (1*) unbeaten.
The series decider will be played on Monday, August 4, at the same venue.
Scorecard Summary:
Pakistan 133-9 in 20 overs (Agha Salman 38, Hassan Nawaz 40; Jason Holder 4-19, Motie 2-39)
West Indies 134-8 in 20 overs (Motie 28, Holder 16, Shepherd 15; Mohammad Nawaz 3-14, Saim Ayub 2-20)*
Series status: Three-match series levelled 1-1. Final T20I on Monday.
