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Pakistan decimate West Indies by 8 wickets in 3rd T20I; complete whitewash

This is the first time Pakistan have completed a 3-0 clean sweep of any team.

Pakistan complete a 3-0 whitewash and will move on to the ODI series with some momentum  © AFP
Pakistan complete a 3-0 whitewash and will move on to the ODI series with some momentum © AFP

Pakistan once again put up a dominant performance and win the third T20 International (T20I) by eight wickets. Pakistan have therefore completed a 3-0 whitewash. West Indies had set Pakistan a target of 104 to win from their 20 overs and they did that with minimal fuss. Pakistan won the match with 29 balls to spare. Jerome Taylor opened the bowling for West Indies and gave away 11 runs in the first over itself, which turned out to be the most expensive over of the match. Kesrick Williams, who bowled the second over got into the rhythm immediately and gave away just three runs in his first over. He bowled five dots, but Khalid Latif managed to get three off the final ball.

Taylor continued despite giving away 11 in his first over, Taylor gave away 12 off his second as Latif hit three back-to-back boundaries off the final three deliveries. Taylor often strayed on the pads, which did not do him or his team any good. But Kesrick Williams, the debutant managed to strike in the sixth over as opener Sharjeel Khan was out caught behind for 13-ball 11. He took a backseat today with Latif doing the bulk of the scoring. West Indies too was back in the hut as Williams’ slower delivery deceived him and crashed into his wickets. Pakistan were still in a good position at 40 for 2 at the end of the powerplay overs. Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam then started to pick up the ones and twos and did not take any undue risks. The asking rate was not a big one and they knew West Indies would have to bowl them out, if they are to win the match.

Williams bowled out in the first eight overs, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 15 on his first ever match for the West Indies. Pakistan brought up their fifty in the ninth over and were cruising along. They did not do anything stupid and kept things going smoothly. The introduction of Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Carlos Brathwaite too did not reap any benefits. Pakistan managed to get boundaries at regular intervals and did not let the runs dry up as they managed to pick up singles at will.

Malik and Azam brought up their 50-run stand off just 38 deliveries and Pakistan were cursing at this stage. Malik and Azam ensured that they did not throw it away and carried their bats till the end. Malik then finished off things in style. He hit a six off Brathwaite to win the match for his side. Malik remained unbeaten on 43, while Azam finished 27 not out. Pakistan will be happy with their performance in the series. They never let go of their control over the West Indies at any point in the series.

West Indies were once again rocked by Imad wasim, who finished with figures of 3 for 21 in his four overs and as a result managed to restrict them to 103 for 5. Pakistan bowled and fielded very well. Marlon Saumels scored an unbeaten 59-ball 42, which helped West Indies get past the 100-run mark. West Indies manage to score just six boundaries throughout the innings and never really got things going. Other bowlers too played their parts. Though they did not pick up many wickets, they manage to restrict the West Indies batsmen very well.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur had instructed Pakistan to be ruthless in this game, despite already having won the T20I series. that is exactly what Pakistan have done and will hope more of the same from them in the One-Day International (ODI) and the Test series that follows after this game.

It was Sarfraz, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, considering that dew might play a factor later in the match, like it did in the first two matches. Pakistan gave a debut to Rumman Raees in this match. They also brought back Mohammad Aamer, with Wahab riaz and Hasan Ali missing out, which meant all of Pakistan’s bowlers are left-handed. West Indies on the other hand brought in Chadwick Walton and also handed out an international debut to fast bowler Kesrick Williams.

World champions West Indies went into the series with a reputation of being the best T20 team in the world. They were without the likes of Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons and world boss Chris Gayle, which played a huge part in ensuring that they did not set daunting targets to the West Indies at any stage of the series. Pakistan on the other hand have won all four matches under Sarfraz Ahmed’s captaincy. They do not play T20 cricket for a while, but go into the ODI series with momentum on their side. West Indies will hope that their star players return to the team when they play next. They however managed to give a few young guns like Williams and Nicholas Pooran a taste of international cricket.

Imad Wasim was rightly adjudged the man of the match for his spell of 3 or 21 in his four overs in this match. He was also adjudged the man of the series, for his nine wickets in the tournament. Pakistan and West Indies will lock horns once again in a three-match ODI series, which will begin on September 30 at Sharjah.

Brief scores:

West Indies 103 for 5 in 20 overs  ( Marlon Samuels 42*, Kieron Pollard 17* ; Imad Wasim 3 for 21) beat Pakistan 108 for 2 in 15.1 overs (Babar Azam 27*, Shoaib Malik 43*; Kesrick Williams 2 for 15) by 8 wickets

Player of the match & series: Imad Wasim

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