On his one-day international debut, Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz played a decisive role in guiding his team to a thrilling five-wicket win over the West Indies in the first ODI at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Chasing a target of 281, Pakistan appeared to be in trouble at 180 for five midway through the innings. However, 22-year-old Nawaz steered the chase with composure, leading his side to victory with all six wickets intact.
Nawaz scored a blistering 63 off 54 balls, including 3 sixes and 5 fours. In the 49th over, he smashed a towering six, followed by a winning boundary off Joseph. “I feel blessed to be able to contribute and bring home victory in my debut match,” said the youngster.
West Indies had set a target of 280 all out, with contributions from Evin Lewis (60), Roston Chase (53), and Shai Hope (55). Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 4 for 51, delivered crucial breakthroughs, while Naseem Shah cleaned up the tail in the penultimate over.
Hope, the West Indies skipper, acknowledged the impact of conditions, saying, “Because of the rain and the wet surface, the first innings was very slow and it made it difficult for spinners. More runs were required as a cushion.”
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised the debutant Nawaz and Talat for their remarkable performances despite the challenging conditions. He also admitted that the bowling line-up still needs tightening.
The second match of the three-match ODI series is scheduled for Sunday, with the decider on Tuesday.