ODI series postponed, tells PCB-CWI joint statement;
Pakistan achieved record highest run chase of 208 runs
Iqbal Jamil
KARACHI: A record highest run chase of 208 runs to win, was achieved by Pakistan, beating West Iindies by 7 wickets in the third T20 match at National Stadium, Karachi. A first wicket partnership of 158 runs off 91 balls between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam laid the foundation to reach the mammoth target. Mohammad Rizwan played a brilliant innings of 87 runs in 45 deliveries and Skipper Babar Azam scored 79 runs off 53 balls. Asif Ali’s aggressive innings of 21 runs in 7 deliveries in the middle order was also a factor in Pakistan’s victory.
Winning the toss West Indies opted to bat first, on the same pitch as of the first T20 match of the current series in which Pakistan scored 200 runs, openers Brandon King and Shamarh Brookes added 66 runs. Brandon King was bowled by Mohammad Waseem after he made 43 runs off 31 balls in which he hit 7 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Shamarh Brookes scored 49 runs of 31 balls was removed by Shahnawaz Dhani. Brookes hit 6 sixes during his innings. The third wicket partnership between Skipper Nicholas Pooran and Darren Bravo put on 93 runs. Nicholas Pooran played a good knock was out caught by Mohammad Nawaz off Mohammad Waseem, he scored 64 runs off 37 deliveries and hit 6 sixes during his innings. Darren Bravo remained unbeaten for 34 runs. Mohammad Waseem took 2 wickets.
In the allotted overs, West Indies scored 207 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, highest T20 score by any team at National Stadium. The previously best, 205 for the loss of 3 wickets was set by Pakistan in 2018 against West Indies.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have issued a joint statement after five more positive cases were reported in the West Indies camp following Wednesday’s PCR testing, raising the total number of positive cases to nine since their arrival in Karachi on December 9.
“On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB COVID-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel. All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned.
“However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022.
“This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.
“The West Indies team members, who returned negative results following Wednesday’s PCR and today’s Rapid Antigen tests, will depart from Pakistan after tonight’s match. Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalised to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebrations.
“Meanwhile, the Pakistan team members, all of whom have returned PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests, will also be leaving the Managed Event Environment after tonight’s third T20I.
“The CWI would like to thank the PCB for its excellent series arrangements and appreciates its support in rescheduling the ODI series in June 2022.”
