Pakistan beat West Indies in 1st T20 by 63 runs

Karachi: Pakistan beat West Indies in the first T20I match at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Pakistan were able to put up a massive 200-6 total after Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali managed to pull off a much-needed partnership.

Pakistan lost early and intermittent wickets after the Windies' skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and put the Green Shirts to bat.

Skipper Babar Azam was sent packing in the first over for a golden duck, Fakahar Zaman (10) was dismissed in the fifth over, as West Indies piled pressure on the Green Shirts.

However, Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan fight back as he built up a partnership with young Haider Ali (68). Both the batters made crucial half-tons — just when the team needed it.

In the 15th over, Rizwan was dismissed for an impressive 78, which he socred with the help of 10 fours. Ali was sent back to the pavilion in the last over, but he did the work which was required of him.

The National Command and Control Center had allowed full capacity crowd at the National Stadium in Karachi, allowing spectators to watch the matches between Pakistan and West Indies after the request of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).  

Earlier, West Indies suffered a huge blow ahead of its T20I series after it was confirmed that the touring cricketers, along with a non-coaching member of the squad, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are ruled out of the series.

Pakistan Squad 

Babar Azam (c), 2 Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani/Mohammad Wasim

West Indies Squad 

Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas