Daily Times

Young guns fired Pakistan to 3-1 triumph in a four-match Twenty20 International series against West Indies on Sunday. Pakistan selectors included leg-spinner Shadab Khan (man-of-the-series for his 10 wickets in four outings), fast bowler Hasan Ali, left-arm pacer Rumman Raees, batsman Babar Azam, all-rounder Imad Wasim and other youngsters in the limited-overs squad for the tour of West Indies and they did come up to the expectations for the side led by wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmad. Shadab was the key performer for the Men in Green with two man-of-the-match awards in the first two ties. He also made worthwhile contributions in the third and fourth contests. Hasan played a pivotal role in the last T20 with his entertaining performance. He bowled back-to-back maidens and finished with match-winning figures of 4-2-12-2. Hasan did most of his damage through inswingers with an old ball. Three out of his four overs came after the first 10 when West Indies fell from a respectable 59 for 2 to a silly 87 for 6. A slide like that might have been justified if there had been a spree of magic deliveries or an invasion of pitch demons. But all Hasan did was bowl full and straight. He capitalized on the West Indian batsmen shortcomings. Chadwick Walton, with 40, and Carlos Brathwaite, who made 37, his new career best, bettering the score he had made at the World T20 final, dragged West Indies to 124 for 8.

The instigator of the hosts’ demise, though, was Shadab. He also dismissed the opposition’s best batsman on the day – Walton – by teasing him into big shot that only went as far as long-on. The reason for that was the dip the 18-year old generated. In much the same way, he deceived Jason Holder in the 16th over and though he didn’t get Kieron Pollard, he was beating his outside edge repeatedly. In brief, the Pakistan bowlers displayed admirable accuracy and discipline. It was the first time ever that Pakistan managed to bowl as many as three maidens in a T20 international and also the first occasion West Indies, the reigning World T20 champions, conceded three maidens when batting in the game’s shortest format.

West Indies lacked aggression and big partnerships in the series, which gave Pakistan an ample opportunity to overwhelm their opponents with ease. Their batting was scratchy and below par except in the third one. Showing an inability to rotate the strike, against pace and spin alike, the West Indies’ batsmen got stuck and never approached the run rate required to mount a genuine challenge in the limited overs series.

Pakistan’s opener Ahmad Shahzad, who failed in previous three encounters, struck scintillating half century to ensure a seven-wicket victory. Chasing 125 to seal the series, the visitors never looked in any sort of trouble and comfortably reached the target with one over to spare. Shahzad finished the innings with the top score of 53 off 45, which included six fours and one six, and he was well supported by Babar Azam, who scored 38 off 36. For hosts, Kesrick Williams picked two, whereas part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels claimed one wicket. It was youngsters’ self-belief that led Pakistan to this dazzling victory against West Indies. This team, having youngsters with potential, is developing and has a future if all of its young recruits feature in a win. At the same time, Pakistan must show more consistency in batting in the upcoming one-day international series. Their biggest weakness is a shortage of firepower and enterprise with the bat.