The streak is finally over! The West Indies men’s cricket team secured a narrow victory over Pakistan in a last-ball thriller on Saturday night, in the second T20 international, in front of a lively crowd in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The win tied the three-match series at one apiece and ended a six-match losing streak for the Caribbean men.
Coming into the encounter having won only two of their last 19 matches, the Men in Maroon were desperate for a victory. After Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, West Indies showed their intent early with the ball. Their bowlers applied pressure from the outset, removing the dangerous Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Mohammad Haris all within the powerplay.
Two gutsy innings — one by Pakistani skipper Salman Agha, who scored 38, and another by Hasan Nawaz — gave the visitors’ innings some structure. However, the consistent loss of wickets restricted Pakistan to just 133 runs after their 20 overs.
This was largely due to a game-changing spell from Barbadian all-rounder Jason Holder, who claimed four wickets for only 19 runs. Holder now stands as the West Indies’ all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, surpassing Dwayne Bravo, who retired on 78.
In response, the West Indies lost both openers, Alick Athanaze and Jewel Andrew, during the powerplay. Their ongoing struggles against spin were evident, as Pakistan’s spinners delivered a steady diet of turning deliveries that stifled scoring opportunities and chipped away at the Windies’ middle and lower order. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling turned what seemed to be a meagre total into a competitive score.
The true spark of the Windies’ comeback came from Guyana’s Gudakesh Motie. In his growing role as a budding T20 allrounder, Motie struck 28 off 20 deliveries, including a few lusty blows against Pakistan’s pacers, to keep the chase alive. However, when Motie was dismissed via a remarkable run-out by Mohammad Haris, and the required run rate climbed past 10 an over, it became clear that a miracle would be needed to see the team home.
Cometh the hour, cometh Jason Holder once again! In partnership with his lower-order teammates, including pinch-hitter Romario Shepherd (15 off 11 deliveries), Holder showcased why he is still regarded as a match-winner. Battling to the very last delivery, Holder faced the final ball with West Indies needing four runs for victory.
A wide from Shaheen Shah Afridi eased the pressure slightly, changing the equation to three required off the last ball. Holder calmly stepped aside to counter a wide yorker and flicked it to the leg-side boundary, sealing a thrilling victory for the West Indies to the jubilation of fans and teammates.
When it came time to select the Player of the Match, there was no contest. Holder’s all-round brilliance — four wickets, two catches, and the match-winning boundary — made him the undisputed choice. In the post-match interview, the former Test captain reflected:
“One of my things is to leave West Indies cricket better than when I came and found it. I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. For me, it’s about having that burning desire to make a change, to make a difference. So I keep putting in my best effort whenever I get the chance with the West Indies.”
The Windies will be hoping for a repeat performance as they aim to clinch the series in a winner-takes-all decider on Sunday.
