PAK vs WI Highlights: Pakistan won by 7 wickets (with 7 balls remaining). Follow Pakistan vs West Indies 3rd T20I Highlights
The visitors handed left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie an international debut, while Darren Bravo returned to the side after recovering from a non-Covid illness.
Earlier in the day, the game was put in jeopardy after Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, and Justin Greaves tested positive for Covid-19 but both teams decided to go ahead with the match.
however , Mohammad Rizwan smashed 87 off 45 balls and Babar Azam scored 79 off 53 as Pakistan pulled off their highest run-chase to beat West Indies by 7 wickets in the third T20I and sweep the series 3-0.Babar Azam was dismissed for 79 but kept Pakistan on course. Azam and Rizwan had put on a century stand after Nicholas Pooran’s half-century took West Indies to 207 for 3.
Shamrah Brooks missed his half-century by one run 49 (31) but captain Nicholas Pooran kept West Indies on top. The left-hander struck his fourth T20I fifty 64(37).
Mohammad Wasim had put an end to a blistering knock from Brandon King. The right-hander had hit a flurry of boundaries to give West Indies to a flying start after they won the toss and opted to bat first in the third and final T20I against Pakistan in Karachi today (16). But their Blowers didn’t able to Stop Pakistan Batters under mammoth 207 target .
Brief scores: Pakistan 208/3 in 18.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 87, Babar Azam 79; Odean Smith 1-34) beat West Indies 207/3 in 20 overs (Shamarh Brooks 49, Nicholas Pooran 64 ; Mohammad Wasim 2-44, ) by 7 wickets.
At the presentation Windies skipper, Nicholas Pooran says that he felt they lost momentum in the last two overs when they were batting and applauds the Pakistani bowlers for their efforts and feels like they were 20 runs short. He mentions that they hardly got any sleep last night due to the covid situation and he is really proud of the boys and mentions that it takes a lot of mental strength to come out here and play. He adds that the guys did get better and better as the series progressed and they have a lot of young guys in the squad and it is a great platform for them to showcase their talent.
“I felt that the last two overs, we definitely lost momentum. Pakistan bowled well in the back end. We were 20 runs short on this wicket. Very tough to prepare with the virus. Most of the guys did not sleep last night, so I am very proud of the way they have played. We went from strength to strength every game. Its a special team, a special bunch of guys. We competed throughout the series.”
Pakistan have rested Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. West Indies have brought in Darren Bravo and debutant Gudakesh Motie. Pakistan are eyeing a whitewash.
As well as The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies due to begin on Saturday has been postponed to June 2022 in the wake of a Covid-19 outbreak among the visiting squad.
West Indies were hit by the virus on the very first day they arrived in Karachi with three players and a support staff member testing positive. While the tour was able to survive that, the emergence of five more Covid cases from tests done on Wednesday – the day before the third and final T20I – took the situation out of everyone’s hands.
“On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB Covid-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel,” a joint PCB-CWI release said. “All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned.
“However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022.
“This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.”
The 15 West Indies players and six support staff who were cleared of the virus will leave for home after tonight’s match. The others – Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, assistant coach Roddy Estwick, team physician Dr Akshai Mansingh and one more non-coaching member – will stay back in Karachi.
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