Tarouba: Captain Shai Hope’s rapid century and Jayden Seales’ six-wicket haul delivered West Indies a historic ODI series victory over Pakistan in the decisive third match at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, on Tuesday.
Seales’ six for 22 – the joint second-best figures by a West Indian in men’s ODI cricket – and Hope’s unbeaten 120 left Pakistan without reply in both innings. This was West Indies’ first ODI series win over Pakistan since 1991, achieved with their largest margin of victory, after bowling the visitors out for 92 in pursuit of 295.
The decisive 15.2-over passage, spread across both innings, marked the height of West Indies’ control. Early on, the pitch troubled the home side, especially against Pakistan’s slower bowlers, with Mohammad Rizwan making full use of his part-time fifth bowling option.
West Indies appeared to abandon the chase for a large total, prioritising wicket preservation, and reached the 44th over without touching 200. Hope then struck Mohammad Nawaz’s first ball for six to reach a milestone, following up with another six that signalled a shift in intent. Pakistan watched as the match turned.
Rizwan recalled Abrar Ahmed, who had been economical in the middle overs, but Hope countered with full aggression. Abrar conceded 18 runs in one over, while Greaves attacked Hasan Ali from the other end. Naseem Shah’s reverse swing could not stop Hope, who completed his century with a cover drive, moving to third on the West Indies’ all-time ODI hundreds list.
A 21-run over followed, and Hope’s final shot over backward point boosted the total. Pakistan’s players left the field visibly dejected.
Seales then dismantled Pakistan’s top order in 8.2 overs. He had Saim Ayub caught at slip in his first over, forced Abdullah Shafique into a mis-hit to mid-on, and produced a delivery to Mohammad Rizwan that skimmed the off bail without touching the stumps. Babar Azam, expected to anchor the chase, fell lbw for a single-figure score, leaving Pakistan 23 for four.
From there, the result was inevitable. Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Nawaz could only collect singles as the required rate rose. Motie and Chase removed them swiftly, leaving Seales to finish the job with the wickets of Naseem and Hasan Ali. Abrar Ahmed’s run-out denied him a seventh wicket, but Pakistan’s collapse was already complete.
Earlier, Pakistan had chosen to field. Hope’s 94-ball 120, with 10 fours and five sixes, anchored West Indies’ 294 for 6. Justin Greaves provided vital support, building on his partnership with Roston Chase from the previous match.
Naseem Shah dismissed Brandon King for five with extra bounce, while Abrar Ahmed removed Evin Lewis for 37 and Keacy Carty for 17. Sherfane Rutherford fell to Saim Ayub for 15. Chase struck 36 off 29 balls, with three fours and two sixes, before Naseem ended his stay.
