Pakistan picked up from where they left against West Indies at the United Arab Emirates as they registered a comfortable six-wicket win at Barbados on Sunday in the first Twenty20 International of the series.
The hosts were tormented by spin yet again. Here, it was debutant Shadab Khan, all of 18-years-old who starred the show, finishing with exceptional figures of 4-0-7-3. Shadab got three wickets in his first couple of overs and could have scalped Kieron Pollard too had Kamran Akmal not spooned what should have been a regulation take. After being reduced to 49/6, it took a late surge by skipper Carlos Brathwaite (34 not out from 27) to take the West Indies team score past three figures.
West Indies could only manage 111/8. Pakistan lost early wickets in their chase but the consistent Babar Azam (29) along with veteran Shoaib Malik (38 not out) ensured that they got over the line without much hiccups. The second of the four-match series will take place on March 30 at Port of Spain.
Brief score:
- West Indies 111/8 in 20 overs (Carlos Brathwaite 34 not out; Shadab Khan 3/7, Imad Wasim 1/12) lost to Pakistan 115/4 in 17.1 overs (Shoaib Malik 38 not out, Babar Azam 29; Jason Holder 2/39) by 6 wickets