In a debut to remember, Hasan Nawaz played the role of match-winner with a sublime unbeaten 63, guiding Pakistan to a five-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening ODI of the series. Chasing a challenging 281 under the lights, Pakistan found themselves in trouble at 177 for 5, but Nawaz and Hussain Talat stitched together a calm and commanding 104-run stand to seal the win with seven balls to spare.
The West Indies innings was built on solid contributions from Evin Lewis (60 off 62), Shai Hope (55), and Roston Chase (53), helping them post a competitive 280. Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling attack with four wickets, striking early to dismiss Brandon King in the first over and later removing Hope in the 41st.
Pakistan’s chase began steadily, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 53 before falling lbw to Shamar Joseph in the 38th over. With the required run rate climbing and pressure mounting, Nawaz stepped up with fearless strokeplay, smashing three sixes and five fours in his 54-ball knock. Talat provided perfect support, contributing 41 off 37 balls.
Nawaz sealed the win in style, launching a six in the penultimate over and then driving the final ball to the boundary to complete a memorable debut. The series continues with the second ODI on Sunday and the finale on Tuesday, with Pakistan carrying momentum and a new star in their ranks.
Read also : How a Microsoft Engineer Cracked Top Tech Jobs—And Her Advice for You
