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In the opening T20 International (T20I) of the three-match series between Pakistan and West Indies, the hosts registered a comprehensive victory by 63 runs on Monday.
Put to bat first, Pakistan started terribly after losing captain Babar Azam on a duck in the very first over bowled by Akeal Hosein (1/19). Soon, Romario Shepherd (2/43) dismissed Fakhar Zaman (10) in the fifth over.
Then, Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali paired up to take the side out of hot waters. The duo formed a dom⛦inating partnership of 105 runs for the third wicket and shifted the moment🐬um towards Pakistan.
While Rizwan smashed a quickfire 78 off 52 balls, including 10 boundaries, Haider scored 68 from 39 deliveries with the help of 6 fours🅰 and 4 sixes. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a valuable 30 not out off 10 balls to help Pakistan post 200/6 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, West Indies got bundled out for a mere 137 in 19 overs to lose the contest by 63 runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope top-scored with 31 off 26 balls before Mohammad Wasim Jr and Shadab Khan destroyed the Windies batting line-up.
Wasim picked up a four-wicket haul while conceding 40 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Simi꧂larly, S𒈔hadab bagged three wickets while giving away only 17 runs in 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
It's all over in Karachi!
West𒀰 Indies have been skittled out for 137 as Pakistan win by 63 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series 👏
W🎃atch the res♓t of the series on (in selected regions) 📺
📝
— ICC (@ICC)
Haider Ali is going to be a serious player……
— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1)
Top work Pakistan!
First win of the T20I series ✔️— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
New record: Pakistan become the first men's team to win 18 T20Is in a calendar year.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
Pakistan take the 1st T20I by 63 runs.
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket)
Haider Ali hits a destructive Fifty off juꦛst 2💙8 balls ⚡
Young is timing the ball perfectly again🎀st West 🐟Indies in Karachi 💥
— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi)
Only the second time, all players bowling in a T20I match took at least 𓃲🐓one wicket.
BAN🇧🇩 v ZIM🇿🇼 at Khulna, 2006
PAK🇵🇰 v WI🏝️ at Karachi, 2021
(excluding no-result)— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)