In a stunning turnaround that exposed glaring weaknesses in their bowling attack, West Indies suffered a humiliating five-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Brian Lara Stadium on August 8. Chasing a competitive target of 281, Pakistan were reeling at 180/5 with just over 15 overs remaining, but a heroic unbeaten partnership between debutant Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat propelled the visitors to victory with seven balls to spare.
The loss has raised serious questions about the West Indies’ bowling unit, particularly their inability to close out games from dominant positions.
West Indies’ performance topsy-turvy
West Indies, opting to bat first after losing the toss under overcast skies, posted 280/8 in their 50 overs. Skipper Shai Hope led from the front with a gritty 55, supported by Roston Chase’s fluent 53. The innings got off to a shaky start when Shaheen Afridi dismissed Brandon King in the first over, but a solid recovery through partnerships involving Evin Lewis (60) and Keacy Carty (30) steadied the ship.
Hope and Chase’s twin fifties in the middle overs pushed the total towards respectability, though late wickets from Afridi (4/51) and Naseem Shah (3/55) restricted them from breaching the 300-mark. Gudakesh Motie chipped in with a quick 18 lower down the order, but the hosts would rue not capitalizing on a platform of 220/4.
Pakistan’s chase began, with openers Abdullah Shafique (29) and Saim Ayub (5). Babar Azam (47) and skipper Mohammad Rizwan (53) then stitched a crucial 68-run stand, keeping the required run rate in check. However, the West Indies spinners turned the tide momentarily: Motie (1/32) dismissed Azam with a tight spell, while Chase (1/41) accounted for Salman Agha.
When Rizwan fell to Joseph in the 35th over, Pakistan were precariously placed at 180/5, needing 101 runs from 91 balls. At this juncture, the match seemed firmly in West Indies’ grasp, with dew making the ball slippery but the bowlers holding a psychological edge.
What followed was a masterclass in composure from Nawaz and Talat, who added an unbroken 104 runs for the sixth wicket. Nawaz, on his ODI debut, played a blinder, smashing 63 not out off 54 balls with five fours and three sixes. His ability to rotate strike and punish loose deliveries – including a straight six off Joseph in the 49th over – was pivotal.
Talat complemented him perfectly with a brisk 41 not out, targeting the spinners and pacers alike. The duo weathered an accurate spell from Chase but feasted on erratic bowling from the seamers, particularly in the death overs where boundaries flowed freely.
The collapse from a winning position has spotlighted concerns over West Indies’ bowling depth. The pacers – Joseph (2/54), Seales (1/59), and debutant Jediah Blades (0/53) – leaked runs at an alarming rate, conceding 53 in the last five overs alone. Blades, in particular, struggled with consistency, bowling no-balls and wides at critical moments.
While the spinners Motie and Chase bowled economically (combined 2/73 in 18 overs), the dew factor hampered their grip, and the lack of variation in the attack was evident. Hope admitted post-match: “It’s a tough loss. We could have put on more runs, but commend the bowlers for fighting with the wet ball. The ball didn’t turn much in the second innings, and we should have got more.” However, the inability to break the Nawaz-Talat stand despite favorable conditions underscores a broader issue: the team’s over-reliance on early wickets and failure to adapt under pressure.
Rizwan, beaming after the win, credited the lower order: “Full credit to Hussain Talat and Hasan Nawaz. At one stage, we were under pressure, but that partnership was amazing.” Nawaz, named Player of the Match, reflected: “The plan was to build a partnership without risks. Hussain targeted spinners, I handled pace – it worked.”
This defeat is a wake-up call for West Indies, who are fighting for automatic qualification to the 2027 World Cup. With the series now 1-0 down, Hope’s men must address their bowling frailties quickly. The pacers’ inability to execute yorkers and slower balls in the slog overs, combined with Blades’ inexperience, could prove costly. Pakistan, buoyed by Nawaz’s dream debut and a versatile all-round attack, look poised to dominate. The second ODI on August 10 offers West Indies a chance for redemption, but without improvements, more embarrassment awaits.
Also Read: WI VS PAK: Hasan Nawaz’s Match Winning Knock Stuns West Indies