Ayub 57, Nawaz three-for extend West Indies’ horror run

Pakistan’s spinners were the difference between the two sides as they derailed the West Indies chase of 179

Pakistan Defeat West Indies by 14 Runs in T20I Opener Thanks to Spinners and Ayub’s Brilliance

Pakistan kicked off their T20I series against the West Indies with a 14-run win in Lauderhill, though the final scoreline made the match seem closer than it really was. The real difference came in the middle overs when Pakistan’s spinners took control and halted the West Indies’ chase of 179.

Saim Ayub laid the foundation with a sharp 57 at the top of the order, helping Pakistan post a total of 178 for 6. While the West Indies bowlers did a good job containing the scoring on a pitch that favored slower deliveries, Pakistan’s batters kept the scoreboard ticking. After Ayub was dismissed by Jason Holder, cameos from Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, and a last-ball six from Mohammad Haris gave Pakistan a strong finish — 58 runs in the final 31 balls.

West Indies started their chase with intent, but Pakistan’s variety in spin — especially from Mohammad Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and even Ayub — kept the pressure on. Shaheen Shah Afridi also delivered a strong performance with the ball. As the run rate climbed and wickets fell, West Indies found themselves short on both time and batting depth.

Jason Holder offered a late scare, smashing 30 not out off just 12 balls, including four sixes, as West Indies hammered 38 runs in the last two overs. But by then, the game had already slipped too far out of reach.

Ayub Stands Out

Batting first, Pakistan got steady contributions from the top order, but none managed to dominate — most batters scored at modest strike rates between 110 and 133. Saim Ayub, however, stood out with a confident and fluent 57. Without his innings, Pakistan might have found themselves in trouble, especially given the slower scoring pace overall.

Ayub Ignites Pakistan’s Innings; Nawaz Spins the Game Away from West Indies

Saim Ayub started his innings at a similar tempo to the rest of the batting lineup, scoring cautiously in his first 25 balls. But everything changed with a boundary off the last delivery of the ninth over — a moment that sparked his transformation. In the very next over, he hit Romario Shepherd for a four, and then went after Jediah Blades with two huge sixes in a 20-run over that pushed him past his half-century. Ayub’s final 28 runs came off just 13 deliveries, lifting Pakistan’s scoring rate to over nine runs an over. He later returned to bowl two overs and took a wicket in each — a cherry on top of a match-defining performance.

Building the Platform — and Tearing It Down

Despite Pakistan’s strong finish, the 179-run target was still very much within reach. The West Indies began their chase sensibly, playing with positive intent but smart shot selection. They treated Shaheen Afridi with caution, taking just five runs from his two overs in the powerplay, but capitalized on others — Nawaz’s second over went for 11, and Johnson Charles took 10 from Haris Rauf’s first.

Even though West Indies hadn’t lost a wicket early, Pakistan managed to regain control. Rauf bowled a tight over for just seven before the powerplay ended, and as the field spread, spin came into play. Mohammad Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem bowled tight, accurate lines, and the scoring rate dropped dramatically. In the eight overs after the powerplay, West Indies could only add 37 runs — and lost four key wickets in the process.

Nawaz’s Triple Blow Breaks West Indies’ Back

The real turning point came in Nawaz’s final over. With West Indies falling behind the required rate, pressure led to mistakes. Nawaz broke a solid 72-run opening stand by getting debutant Jewel Andrew caught at long-off. Two balls later, Johnson Charles nearly cleared the boundary, but Shaheen Afridi’s brilliant fielding effort saved four runs. On the very next delivery, Charles top-edged to the keeper. Then, Gudakesh Motie hit one straight to deep midwicket, making it three wickets in one over. Nawaz, once called a “match-winner” by Babar Azam, lived up to that title with a game-changing spell.