The West Indies T20 team’s losing streak has now extended to six games, following a defeat to Pakistan in the first match of a three-game series played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The small crowd featured a mix of Caribbean faithful and Pakistani supporters, giving the match a neutral-venue atmosphere.
The game marked the T20 International debut of Jewel Andrew. With his selection, the 18-year-old opener from Antigua & Barbuda became the youngest player ever to represent the Men in Maroon in this format. The match also saw the return of Saint Lucia’s Johnson Charles and Guyana’s Shamar Joseph to the playing XI.
After losing all five tosses in the Australian series, the West Indies finally won one and chose to field first. The Floridian surface is known to be bowler-friendly, meaning batsmen would need to apply themselves well to succeed.
The team’s decision seemed justified early on, with Sahibzada Farhan falling during the powerplay. However, an 81-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub steadied Pakistan’s innings and gave them the upper hand during the middle overs. Ayub eventually scored 57 off just 38 balls before being dismissed LBW by Jason Holder.
Ayub’s dismissal triggered a flurry of wickets, as the West Indies bowlers stifled Pakistan’s push for a strong finish. Shamar Joseph led the attack, recording his best T20I figures to date, 3-30. Despite his efforts, sloppy fielding proved costly as Pakistan posted a score near the venue’s average winning total for teams batting first.
In reply, the West Indies introduced a new opening pair in Andrew and Charles. While both batsmen got runs, they did so at a slow rate, as Pakistan’s spinners tightened the screws on the Floridian pitch. When both were dismissed for 35 runs each, at around a run-a-ball, the task proved too great for the middle and lower order. The West Indies eventually fell short by 14 runs.
The team will aim to bounce back when they face the same opposition on Saturday night.
