Dubai: Riding on an unbeaten knock of 46 runs from skipper Sarfraz Ahmad and his 69 runs partnership in 7.4 overs with Shoaib Malek (37) for the fourth wicket, Pakistan posted a challenging 160 for 4 in the second Twenty20 match of the three match series against West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
West Indies, after winning toss, put Pakistan into bat. Opener Khalid Latif too chipped in with 40 runs after opener Sharjeel Khan fell in the third over of the innings from leg spinner Samuel Badree. He chopped the ball into his wicket for 2.
Babar Azam, fresh from his elegant unbeaten knock of 55 in the first Twenty20 match here, joined Latif. The last ball of Badree’s wicket taking over was hit for a six by Latif over mid-wicket to announce that he is in form. This pair had put on an unbeaten 88 runs in the first Twenty20 match and batted as fluently as they did in that match.
When West Indies introduced Sunil Narine in the sixth over, Azam drove him through extra cover to the boundary. In the eight over, Latif and Azam took 13 runs off Dwayne Bravo’s over. Latif escaped being caught off the last ball from Bravo when Nicholas Pooran failed to hold on to a catch at deep backward square leg.
At a time when run began to flow, skipper Brathwaite introduced himself in the ninth over and dismissed Azam for 19. Azam hit straight to Kieron Pollard at long on after putting on 54 runs in 5.5 overs.
Shoaib Malek, who joined Latif also began to stroke freely and at the half way mark, Pakistan were 73 for 2. Driving Brathwaite through the covers, Malek picked his first boundary.
Latif, who was stroking beautifully got run out for 40 off a brilliant pick up and throw from Pooran from the deep backward square leg. Malek and Latif could add only 27 runs in 3.3 overs.
Sarfraz joined Malek with Pakistan needing some quick runs. Hitting Narine over extra cover for a boundary, Sarfraz began to pick the gaps. By the 15th over, Pakistan were 110 for 3.
With boundaries getting tough to come, Sarfraz and Malek began to nudge and run for their singles and doubles. Malek elegantly glanced pacer Jerome Taylor, who was introduced for his second spell, to the boundary. He also pulled him to mid-wicket for another boundary.
In the 18th over, Malek stepped out to lift Narine for a straight six. Sarfraz pulled Taylor to mid-wicket boundary to steer Pakistan past the 150 run mark. Teams batting first has won 10 out of 12 matches scoring 150 runs or more here. Malek fell in the last over from Bravo pulling into the hands of Pollard for 37.
