The West Indies squared the three-match ODI series against Pakistan by claiming a five-wicket triumph under revised international playing conditions in the second match at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad, which was curtailed by inclement weather.
Repeated rain interruptions required a reduction in Malaysia’s innings to 37 overs. They concluded at 171 for 7, with the West Indies subsequently assigned a target of 181 within 35 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern formula. The home side achieved 184 for 5 in 33.1 overs, finishing with 11 balls remaining.
Pakistan made a steady start with an opening stand of 37 before Jayden Seales struck twice in the ninth over, removing Saim Ayub and captain Babar Azam. It was a brief outing for Babar, who fell for a three-ball duck — his fifth in ODIs and first against the West Indies.
The visitors struggled to regain momentum as wickets kept falling. From 143 for 7, Hasan Nawaz pushed them toward a competitive total before rain intervened again.
The West Indies reply had a shaky beginning. Hasan Ali’s new-ball spell left them at 12 for 2 inside four overs. He eventually claimed 2 for 35 in his six-over spell, moving to 102 ODI wickets.
With the chase in the balance, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase delivered a masterclass in partnership batting. Rutherford seized the momentum, attacking the bowling with a calculated assault of 45 from 33 deliveries.
His aggression allowed Chase the freedom to play a composed, anchor innings of 49 not out, ensuring there was no collapse. Chase then expertly guided the side to victory alongside Justin Greaves (26 not out), their composed 77-run partnership a textbook example of how to close out a run chase.
Jayden Seales’ incisive opening spell proved equally critical. The 22-year-old paceman returned 3 for 23 from seven overs, boasting two maidens. His precision and seam movement stifled Pakistan’s innings at the outset.
West Indies captain Shai Hope, undeterred by the team’s uneven outcomes, extended his impressive stretch of personal runs by powering past 7,500 List A runs during a measured 32 that accentuated his continuing consistency. That knock arrived on the back of a composed half-century in the series opener, confirming he remains among the rare players in clearly defined form.
The teams head into a decisive match locked 1-1, a situation that amplifies the stakes. However, the looming result matters less than each squad’s drive to finalise a reliable, assured eleven before a testing international calendar commences. Neither side can afford to enter that schedule still searching for settled combinations.
