(Cricket news) Pakistan broke its own record with a victory over West Indies in the second T20 match at Karachi. The team now has 2-0 lead in the T20 series as the final match will be played tomorrow, West Indies had a real chance in the 2nd match and will now hope for a consolation win in the 3rd T20. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first just like the previous match.

Captain Babar Azam did not last long, similar to the 1st match as he was run out due to a poor decision by Mohammad Rizwan in the third over. Babar went out for a duck in the previous match and now had only scored 7 runs. The run rate was going at over 9 as Fakhar Zaman did not take time to settle in, but he paid the price as it was a swing and a miss against Akeal Hosein who watched captain Nicholas Pooran take off the bails. Rizwan was still at the crease as he continued hitting boundaries even though the wickets kept falling at the other end.

Haider Ali played it safe as the run rate dropped to 7 but both the batters seemed to be a handful for the West Indian bowlers. Odean Smith took the wicket of Rizwan in his first ball of the match as it brought smiles all over the field and took out Haider as well in his next over as Shamarh Brooks caught the ball on the run at the boundary ropes. West Indies bowlers were now making it difficult for the Pakistani batters as the score was 141-8 in 18 overs, Shadab Khan hit three sixes and a boundary as he took the team to above the 170 mark.

The West Indies started with caution as opener Brandon King hit a few boundaries in the powerplay to score 50 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Pooran scored a run a ball 26 to give the much needed support to King who kept the Pakistani bowlers busy with his power striking. King got to his half century in 33 balls and hit a six to bring the 100 run mark for the team. King’s departure in the 16th over was a relief for Pakistan as they now had to defend 55 runs in the last 5 overs.

Shaheen Afridi further created more worry for Caribbean visitors as he first took the wicket of Odean Smith in 17th over as Asif Ali took a catch millimeters away from the ropes. Afridi then bowled a fast one to Dominc Drakes for a golden duck and in the last ball of the over bowled Hayden Walsh. The West Indies now needed 42 from the last 3 overs, Romario Shepherd took charge as he contributed nine of 11 runs in the 18th over and in the next over hit a four in the hat trick ball to deny Afridi his fourth wicket of the match. Afridi only gave 8 runs in the 19th over as they now needed to defend 23 in 6 balls and Haris Rauf got ready to bowl the final over.

Rauf did not have a good start as Shepherd was dropped by Shadab Khan in the first ball and in the next delivery he was hit for a six. Rauf responded with a yorker as the pressure was back into Shepherd who then hit a four in the very next ball as they needed 11 off 2. Shepherd sliced the fifth delivery which went like a rocket but was stopped by Asif Ali when the ball hit his thighs which signalled series victory for Pakistan. Pakistan have now won 18 T20 matches this year and broke their record of 17 victories in 2018.

Pakistan: 172/8 in 20 overs

West Indies: 163/10 in 20 overs

Pakistan won by 9 runs

Man of the match: Shadab Khan (28*, 6×3 and 4×1)

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