Pakistan v West Indies, 1st ODI - 5 Talking Points

Having defeated West Indies 3-0 already in the format they rule the world, Pakistan were in a better position coming into the One-Day International series with momentum and form on their side. To start with, it was Jason Holder who won the toss and decided to field first. They wanted to restrict Pakistan to a sizeable total and make sure their batsmen chase it down.

Things kicked off well for Holder as they had Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali on the very first ball of the inning but thereafter Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam got into a partnership that took the game out of the reach of the Caribbean team. In their response, most of the West Indies batsmen cared a little too little to stay at the crease and apart from Marlon Samuels’ 46 no other knock was worth a mention as they fell 111 runs short of the target.

1. Sharjeel Khan’s fifty:

Walking out to bat Pakistan had a really bad start, Azhar Ali couldn’t extend his stay longer than a ball and with that became the first Pakistani skipper to get out on the first ball of an ODI. Sharjeel wasn’t deterred and rather held his end up pretty well. He played his shots with Babar also fluent at the other end. He scored a meaningful half century to give direction and solidity to the Pakistan innings. His knock of 54 from 43 balls comprised of 6 fours and 3 sixes.

2. Babar Azam scored a scintillating ton:

Babar played the best knock of his 16 ODI young career to get to his maiden century in 50 overs cricket. He was in good form in the T20I series as well and got a fifty in the first game and stayed unbeaten in the last but a ton is a ton and nothing matches the joy of a batsman who not just gets a triple figures score but one that helps the team win the game. His stay at the crease was for 131 deliveries during which he scored 120 runs with the help of 8 boundaries and 3 mighty sixes.

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3. Carlos Brathwaite strikes thrice:

At times when not a lot of things were going their way, Carlos Brathwaite took things in hand, though Sulieman Benn broke the partnership between Sharjeel and Babar, it was Brathwaite who got rid of the centurion. The big man Kieron Pollard took a sensational catch at the boundary to aid his dismissal but the allrounder struck twice after that with the wickets of Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz along with a run out of Wahab Riaz to give late jolts to the Pakistani’s.

4. Floodlight causes delay:

During Pakistan’s batting innings just after the 3rd ball of the 44th over was bowled the flood lights at the stadium went off. It was later reported that the connecting cable burnt off which cut down the supply completely. The technical snub consumed 40 minutes of match time and at once stage, there appeared a possibility that the game might be reduced to 44 overs a side contest but it things got better as Pakistan came out to bat again though to only complete 49 overs. Duckworth Lewis rule came into effect and the target was revised to 287.

5. Mohammad Nawaz’s 4-wicket haul:

Mohammad Nawaz was the best bowler on the night. The 22-years old from Rawalpindi removed the danger man Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite. All these 4 players have the potential of turning the game on its head with their muscle. But the left-arm spinner ensured nothing of that sort happened tonight as he bowled tight lines and used the assistance from the surface to the best effect. He returned with figures of 40-0-42-4.

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