Hasan Nawaz led Pakistan to a thrilling five-wicket win over West Indies in the first ODI on Friday. He scored an unbeaten 63 runs in his debut match. Pakistan chased down a target of 281 runs with seven balls to spare. Hasan built a strong partnership with Hussain Talat, who contributed 41 runs. Their 104-run stand helped Pakistan recover after a mid-innings collapse.
West Indies had earlier posted 280 all out after being sent to bat first. Evin Lewis scored 60 runs, hitting three sixes and five fours. Shai Hope and Roston Chase also added 55 and 53 runs respectively. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi impressed with four wickets, including the early dismissal of Brandon King. Naseem Shah also took key wickets during the final overs.
Pakistan started well but lost wickets at regular intervals during the chase. Mohammad Rizwan scored 53 before being dismissed lbw by Shamar Joseph. At that point, Pakistan still needed 101 runs to win. Hasan Nawaz and Talat then took control of the game. Their smart stroke play kept the run rate steady.
The final moments were tense as the match neared the end. Hasan Nawaz hit a six early in the 49th over. Then, on the final ball of the same over, he struck a boundary to seal the win. He remained not out on 63 from 54 balls with five fours and three sixes. Talat supported well, scoring 41 from 37 balls.
With this victory, Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0. The second ODI will be played on Sunday, followed by the final on Tuesday. This win gives Pakistan strong momentum. Hasan Nawaz’s debut performance has added a new star to Pakistan’s batting lineup. Fans will now look forward to the next match with high hopes.