Pakistan too strong for Windies
KARACHI, PAKISTAN (CMC):
WEST INDIES suffered a humbling whitewash on the two-year anniversary of their Twenty20 World Cup triumph, when they slipped to an eight-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the final T20 International of the threematch series here yesterday.
Hoping to end an otherwise dismal series on a high, the Windies enjoyed no such luxury, gathering only 153 for six off their 20 overs on a batsman’s pitch at the National Stadium and watching helplessly as the hosts chased it down with 19 balls to spare.
The series defeat saw the reigning World champions slip from fifth to seventh in the ICC world rankings.
There was slight improvement over the first two matches which the tourists lost by comprehensive margins as Andre Fletcher stroked their first half-century with 52 while veteran Denesh Ramdin slammed a quickfire unbeaten 42 and Marlon Samuels, 31.
But the result was never in doubt once Man-of-the-Series Babar Azam struck 51 in a 61-run opening stand off 32 deliveries with Man-of-the-Match Fakhar Zaman, who carved out 40.
When both departed, Hussain Talat (31 not out) and Asif Ali (25 not out), both of whom made their international debuts in the series, saw their side home to post an emphatic result in the first tour on Pakistani soil in nine years.
West Indies, who arrived late Saturday night, were crushed by 143-runs in Sunday’s opener and suffered an 82-run drubbing in the second match on Monday.