Pakistan on Monday defeated West Indies by 63 in the first T20I match at the National Stadium in Karachi after Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali managed to pull off a much-needed partnership.
Pakistan had handed over a 201-run target to the guests.
Pakistan were able to put up a massive 200-6 total on the board despite losing early and intermittent wickets after the Windies' skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and put the Green Shirts to bat.
Skipper Babar Azam was sent packing in the first over for a golden duck, Fakahar Zaman (10) was dismissed in the fifth over, as West Indies piled pressure on the Green Shirts.
However, Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan fight back as he built up a partnership with young Haider Ali (68). Both the batters made crucial half-tons — just when the team needed it.
In the 15th over, Rizwan was dismissed for an impressive 78, which he socred with the help of 10 fours. Ali was sent back to the pavilion in the last over, but he did the work which was required of him.
Mohammad Nawaz also performed well for his side as he scored 30 off just 10 balls, which included three 4s and two 6s.
The West Indies, hit by positive COVID tests in three of their T20 players, brought Devon Thomas and Shamarh Brooks from the ODI squad as replacements.
Firm favourites Pakistan presented a T20 World Cup semi-final-like show with a 3-0 rout of Bangladesh on their home grounds last month.
“We want to carry the momentum and the confidence that we have gained during the World Cup and the tour of Bangladesh,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said in a pre-match media talk on Sunday.
“There has always been talking that they are missing some key players but all those who are here are of international standard so we will not consider them easy.”
Pakistan have beaten the West Indies in 12 of their 18 T20I clashes, suffering three losses.
Babar has formed an unbreakable opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan and a solid batting line-up alongside a bowling attack led by the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi has seen the team win eight of their last nine T20Is.
Rizwan is the first batsman ever to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year, amassing 1,123 in 26 matches, while Babar has scored 853 in the same number of games.
The West Indies have had contrasting fortunes, failing to qualify for the World Cup semi-final after winning the competition in 2012 and 2016.
Squads
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Rovman Powell.
