Lauderhill, Florida: Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Syub heroic 138 runs partnership powered Pakistan clinching a splendid victory in third T-20 against West Indies by 13 run to win the series by 2-1.
Pakistan set a challenging target of 190 runs for the West Indies in the final T20I at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.
The green team decided to bat first after winning the toss.
Pakistan got off to a flying start as openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan launched a calculated assault on the West Indies bowling attack, guiding the team to 47-0 by the end of the powerplay.
Farhan was particularly impressive, bringing up his third T20I half-century in the 11th over as Pakistan’s total reached 88 without loss.
Saim Ayub soon followed suit, registering his third T20I fifty and raising the team’s 100-run opening stand in the 13th over, with Pakistan cruising at 108-0.
The host finally made a breakthrough in the 17th over when pacer Shamar Joseph removed Farhan for a well-crafted 74 off 53 balls, featuring three boundaries and five sixes, leaving Pakistan at 138-1 in 16.2 overs.
Hassan Nawaz then joined Ayub and added a quickfire 15 off just seven balls, including two sixes, before falling to Roston Chase, with Pakistan at 158-2 in the 18th over.
In the following over, Mohammad Haris was run out for just 2, courtesy of a sharp effort by Jewel Andrew with support from Gudakesh Motie, leaving Pakistan three down.
Ayub’s fine innings came to an end in the 19th over when Jason Holder dismissed him for 66 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, with the score at 170-4.
The final over proved fruitful for Pakistan as Shamar Joseph conceded 19 runs.
Khushdil Shah remained unbeaten on 11 off six balls, while Faheem Ashraf contributed a handy 10 off just three.
West Indies began aggressively, racing to 33 in the first two overs. Jewel Andrew (24) and Alick Athanaze (60) gave the hosts a promising start, with Athanaze smashing his maiden T20I half-century.
But Pakistan struck back through Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, and Saim Ayub, who took key wickets at crucial junctures. Despite a valiant 51 off 35 by Sherfane Rutherford, the West Indies fell short, ending their innings at 176-6.
Pakistan’s bowling was evenly shared as Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Saim Ayub picked up one wicket each.
Pakistan have won the series by 2-1 as albeit clinched victory in first T-20I while the host levelled the series by defeating Pakistan in second T-20I by two wickets at Lauderhill Florida.
