Nawaz’s Knock Secures 5-Wicket Win for Pakistan vs. West Indies.

In the opening match of their ODI series, Pakistan defeated the West Indies by five wickets thanks to a brilliant debut from Hasan Nawaz, who went 63 not out on Friday.

In the day-night match, which has game two on Sunday and the final ODI on Tuesday, Nawaz and Hussain Talat rallied the visitors with a sixth-wicket partnership of 104 not out.

Evin Lewis led West Indies to 280 all out with 60 off 62 balls, three sixes, and five fours. Shai Hope and Roston Chase also contributed 55 and 53, respectively.

Mohammad Rizwan scored 53 runs for Pakistan, who needed 281 to win, before being bowled out by Shamar Joseph in the 38th over, leaving the visitors 101 runs short of victory. This set the stage for heroics from Nawaz and Talat.

With seven balls remaining, Pakistan won thanks to a six from Nawaz on the second ball of the 49th over and a brilliant shot to the boundary off Joseph’s last delivery.

Overall, Talat finished at 41 from 37 balls with one six and four fours, while Nawaz reached 63 on 54 balls with three sixes and five fours.

When Brandon King was taken for four on the fifth ball of the opening over, bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi—his first of four wickets—and caught by Babar Azam, Pakistan’s decision to send the hosts in to bat first paid off quickly.

Lewis was bowled by Saim Ayub and caught by Afridi on the final ball of the 19th over.

On the second ball of the 41st over, West Indies captain Hope was caught by Rizwan after getting out to a delivery from Afridi, leaving the hosts at 200 for five.

On the final ball of the 43rd over, Romario Shepherd was dismissed on four.

Squads
Pakistan teams include Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan (captain/wicket-keeper).

West Indies players: Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Jediah Blades, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, and Shai Hope (captain/wicket-keeper).

Published in Daily Pak, August 9th, 2025