TRIUMPH; West Indies produced a dominant all-round display to thrash Pakistan by 202 runs in the third and final ODI at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, clinching the three-match series 2-1. This was the Windies’ first ODI series triumph over Pakistan in 34 years.
Pakistan, who had won the toss and opted to field first, made early inroads when Brandon King fell in the third over with just 10 runs on the board. However, despite a shaky start, West Indies rebuilt through steady partnerships. Evin Lewis (37) and Keacy Carty (17) added 47 for the second wicket before both fell to Abrar Ahmed in quick succession.
Captain Shai Hope then took control, first adding 45 with Sherfane Rutherford (15) and later forming a crucial 64-run stand with Roston Chase, who hit a quickfire 36 off 29 balls. At 184/6 in the 42nd over, Pakistan sensed an opening, but Hope and Justin Greaves turned the game on its head with a blistering 110-run unbeaten partnership for the seventh wicket. Hope smashed an unbeaten 120 off 94 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes, while Greaves contributed a rapid 43* from just 24 deliveries. West Indies closed on an imposing 294/6 in their 50 overs.
Pakistan’s chase was a disaster from the outset. None of the top-order batters managed to withstand the relentless pace attack, with only Salman Ali Agha (30) and Mohammad Nawaz (23*) offering resistance. The rest of the lineup crumbled, with no other batsman reaching double figures. Pakistan were bowled out for a mere 92 in 29.2 overs, handing West Indies a massive 202-run win.
Jayden Seales delivered a career-best spell, taking 6 wickets for just 18 runs in 7.2 overs. He was well supported by Gudakesh Motie (2 wickets) and Roston Chase (1 wicket). For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets apiece, while Nawaz and Saim Ayub claimed one each.
The series had started with Pakistan winning the first ODI by five wickets, before West Indies levelled with a five-wicket win in the second match. Pakistan had earlier secured the T20I series 2-1. However, this final ODI belonged entirely to the hosts, with Hope’s batting masterclass and Seales’ destructive bowling sealing an emphatic series victory.
Seales was named Player of the Match, while Shai Hope’s consistent performances cemented his status as the backbone of West Indies’ batting lineup.
