Islamabad( The COW News Digital )In a rain-affected second One Day International (ODI) at Providence Stadium, Guyana, West Indies defeated Pakistan by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, leveling the three-match series 1-1. The decisive third ODI will take place on August 12.
After multiple rain interruptions, West Indies were set a revised target of 181 runs in 35 overs. They successfully chased it down with 11 balls to spare, finishing at 182/5. Roston Chase top-scored with an unbeaten 49, while Sherfane Rutherford contributed 45, and captain Shai Hope added 32. The win keeps the home side in contention for the series, which began with Pakistan’s victory in the first match.
Earlier, persistent rain forced the match to be shortened to 40 overs per side. Pakistan, batting first after losing the toss, struggled to build partnerships and posted 171/7 in 37 overs before a third rain delay halted their innings. The DLS method then adjusted West Indies’ chase to 181 runs in 35 overs.
For Pakistan, opener Saim Ayub managed 23 off 31 balls, while captain Mohammad Rizwan made a modest 16 from 38 deliveries. Abdullah Shafique contributed 26 from 40 balls, and Hussain Talat struck 31 off 32. Hasan Nawaz provided some late resistance with 36 off 30 balls, while Shaheen Shah Afridi remained unbeaten on 11 from seven deliveries. Star batter Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck, a blow that dented Pakistan’s innings early on.
West Indies’ bowling was spearheaded by Jayden Seales, who took three wickets for just 23 runs, maintaining pressure throughout the innings. The disciplined bowling and smart field placements restricted Pakistan’s ability to accelerate in the middle overs.
At the toss, West Indies skipper Shai Hope cited weather conditions and pitch moisture as key reasons for opting to bowl first, aiming to restrict Pakistan to a manageable total. His decision proved strategic as the hosts capitalized on early breakthroughs.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s effort in the first ODI and emphasized the importance of youth inclusion in the squad, noting the strong performances of emerging players in recent matches. The team made three changes for this game, bringing in Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abrar, and Mohammad Nawaz, while resting Faheem Ashraf, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Naseem Shah.
With the series now tied, both teams will enter the final ODI with everything to play for, and weather conditions may once again be a decisive factor.
