Dubai: Pakistan outclassed world champions the West Indies by 16 runs in the second Twenty20 match in Dubai yesterday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
Pakistan scored 160-4 in their 20 overs after they were sent in to bat with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (46 not out), Khalid Latif (40) and Shoaib Malik (37) amongst the runs.
Ahmed hit a rapid 32-ball 46 and added 69 runs for the third wicket with Shoaib Malik (37 off 28 balls) to lift Pakistan after West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl on a slow Dubai stadium pitch.
Ahmed’s knock featured five boundaries while Malik smashed a six and three fours. Opener Latif made a 36-ball 40 with three boundaries and a towering six. Babar Azam made 19 and Sharjeel Khan two. They then restricted the West Indies to 144-9 with left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir taking 3-13, also completing 50 wickets in the shortest format. Medium pacer Hasan Ali grabbed 3-49.
Andre Fletcher made 29 while Sunil Narine top-scored with 30 for the West Indies. Pakistan had won the first match — also in Dubai — by nine wickets on Friday. The third and final match takes place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Brief scores: Pakistan 160 for 4 (Sarfraz 46 not out, Latif 40) beat West Indies 144 for 9 (Narine 30, Fletcher 29, Tanvir 3-13) by 16 runs
Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir bowls during the T20I match against West Indies at the Dubai International Stadium. (AFP)
