In the second ODI against the West Indies, Pakistan had a golden opportunity to secure the series lead and move towards a decisive advantage. However, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, persistent rain interruptions, a batting collapse, and the recurring habit of squandering opportunities left the team facing defeat. Chasing a relatively modest target of 181 runs in 35 overs, West Indies reached the mark with 10 balls to spare and five wickets in hand, leveling the series 1-1.
The match began with West Indies captain Shai Hope winning the toss and opting to field. Overcast conditions hinted at possible interruptions, and as expected, rain disrupted play multiple times — first after the 16th over, then twice more later in the innings. Ultimately, the game was reduced from 50 overs to 35, adding pressure on the batting side to score at a quicker rate.
Pakistan’s innings started with a 37-run opening stand, but Saim Ayub once again failed to convert a promising start into a substantial innings. His dismissal for 23, caught in the slips, repeated the mistake from the previous match. Babar Azam’s dismissal for a duck — bowled by Seales — was a psychological blow for the team, as losing an experienced player early often piles pressure on the rest of the batting order.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan adopted a cautious approach, which helped protect his wicket but slowed the scoring rate — a costly trade-off in a shortened match. After Abdullah Shafique’s dismissal, Rizwan and Hussain Talat managed a brief stand, but Rizwan soon fell for just 16 runs.
In the middle order, Hussain Talat contributed 31 runs to take Pakistan close to the 100-run mark, but after his departure, Salman Agha was dismissed for 9, leaving the score at 114 for five. This collapse indicated that Pakistan had lost control of the match.
Following a third rain interruption, Pakistan’s innings did not progress further, and the target was set at 181 in 35 overs. On paper, this seemed defendable, but in reality, Pakistan’s bowling and fielding lacked the same intensity and strategic sharpness shown in the first ODI.
West Indies batted with discipline, avoiding unnecessary risks. Keacy Carty scored 16, Shai Hope 32, and Sherfane Rutherford added 45 to lay a solid foundation. In the end, Roston Chase’s unbeaten 49 and Justin Greaves’ 26 guided the hosts to victory. Chase, in particular, nullified Pakistan’s bowling pressure with simple yet effective batting.
For Pakistan, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed claimed one. However, inconsistency in line and length was evident, especially during the middle overs and towards the end of the innings.
The key factors in this defeat were irresponsible shot selection by the top order, the middle order’s failure to respond under pressure, ignoring the need to accelerate scoring after rain breaks, and the bowlers’ inability to maintain consistent pressure. If Pakistan wants to win the deciding match, they must adopt an aggressive yet balanced strategy — with the top order providing substantial partnerships, the middle order adapting to pressure situations, and the bowlers focusing equally on taking wickets and restricting runs. Otherwise, another chance at victory might slip away.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.