Pakistan secured a hard-fought 13-run victory over West Indies in the third and final T20I in Lauderhill, Florida, clinching the series 2-1. This triumph marked Pakistan’s seventh consecutive T20I series win over the West Indies, reinforcing their dominance in this bilateral rivalry.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub laid the foundation with a superb 138-run opening stand—the highest partnership of the series. Their composed yet calculated approach gave Pakistan the platform they needed, although the innings initially lacked the acceleration typically expected on such a high-scoring surface.
Unlike the second T20I, where early wickets hurt Pakistan’s momentum, Farhan and Ayub provided stability at the top. The duo navigated the opening overs cautiously, ensuring wickets were preserved. As the innings progressed, they began finding the boundary with more ease, mixing singles and doubles with occasional sixes and fours. However, West Indies bowlers managed to sneak in quiet overs, maintaining some control over the run rate.
At the end of 16 overs, Pakistan’s score stood at 138 without loss, but with a run rate that hovered around 8.5—considered below par for a flat Lauderhill pitch. Recognizing the need to accelerate, Pakistan finally found the gear shift when Farhan departed for a well-made 74 off 45 balls, falling to Shamar Joseph. This brought Hasan Nawaz to the crease, who wasted no time in setting the tempo for the death overs. He smashed a six off his fourth ball and another in the following over, igniting the late-innings surge Pakistan desperately needed.
Although boundaries along the ground were hard to come by, Pakistan managed to launch five sixes in the final four overs. The final over alone yielded 20 runs, largely thanks to lower-order hitting and clever running. The team added 53 runs in the last four overs, lifting their total to a competitive 189 for 4 in 20 overs. Ayub also played a pivotal role, scoring 66 runs from 48 deliveries.
West Indies, in response, started their chase with electric intent. Openers charged out of the blocks, smashing 33 runs off the first two overs, raising hopes of another thrilling finish similar to their win in the second match. The hosts seemed ahead of the required rate for much of the chase and, by the 16th over, were actually five runs ahead of Pakistan’s score at the same stage. Alick Athanaze and Sherfane Rutherford were the main contributors, scoring 60 and 51 respectively, keeping the Windies in the hunt.
However, Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure. Haris Rauf, who had earlier pulled things back after the explosive start, returned for a crucial 17th over and delivered with fire and accuracy. He applied the brakes on West Indies’ momentum, denying them the boundaries they needed. But the turning point came in the 18th over, bowled by left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem.
With the required run rate rising rapidly and Roston Chase struggling for fluency, West Indies made the rare move to retire Chase out and send in Jason Holder, banking on his big-hitting prowess. However, Muqeem struck immediately. A well-disguised flipper skidded through to bowl Holder for a two-ball duck. The delivery was so deceptive that Holder initially appeared unsure of how he had been dismissed.
That wicket effectively sealed the game for Pakistan. The final two overs were a formality, as the Caribbean side could only thrash wildly in search of boundaries. Muqeem’s 1 for 20 in four overs was instrumental, and Rauf’s tight spell also ensured West Indies finished on 176 for 6, falling short by 13 runs.
The defeat was especially bitter for the West Indies, who had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the series but ultimately lacked the consistency and execution in crucial phases. In contrast, Pakistan’s blend of youthful exuberance and measured aggression proved just enough to edge past the hosts.
This win gives Pakistan another series trophy in the shortest format and continued reassurance about their bench strength and evolving batting strategy. While the 138-run stand between Ayub and Farhan was debatably a tad conservative, its impact cannot be overstated in giving Pakistan a firm grip on the game.
Summary:
- Pakistan: 189/4 in 20 overs
- Farhan: 74 (45)
- Ayub: 66 (48)
- Chase: 1/31
- West Indies: 176/6 in 20 overs
- Athanaze: 60 (38)
- Rutherford: 51 (32)
- Muqeem: 1/20
