While West Indies scored a historic record-breaking win in the opening One-Day International (ODI) of the Q Mobile Cup Series against Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday, they faltered badly in the second match to slump to a 74-run defeat two days later.
The embattled regional team pulled off a courageous record run-chase- having never successfully chased in excess of 300 in an ODI.
They re-wrote the record books after pulling of a victory of 308 with an over to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Middle order batsman Jason Mohammed struck the fastest-ever half century by a West Indian against Pakistan, but in the second game could only manage a single (1).
Mohammed was at the center of the first win, producing a magical unbeaten 91 from 58 balls to take the Man-of-the-Match title.
Batting first, Pakistan piled up an imposing venue record 308 for 5 off their 50 overs — also their highest One-Day International total against their opponents — with Mohammed Hafeez leading the way with 88. Opener Ahmed Shezad (67) and veteran Shoaib Malik (53) also chipped in with half centuries.
From 156 for two in the 33rd over, West Indies suffered two huge setbacks, losing both opener Kieran Powell (61) and Shae Hope (24) in successive overs.
Facing a daunting task of 10 runs an over to win with West Indies on 158 for four in the 34th, Mohammed single-handedly transformed the game striking 11 fours and 3 sixes that had Pakistan panicking on the field.
Together with Ashley Nurse, the momentum shifted in West Indies favor from 259 for six to 309 in the final over.
Hoping to win the series and give West Indies their first ODI win against Pakistan in 23 years, the regional team was never able to press home the advantage in the second match.
Captain Jason Holder won the toss and sent in Pakistan to bat. The Pakistanis batted cautiously and ended up scoring 282 in their allotted 50 overs with middle-order batsman Babar Azam hitting an unbeatable 125.
He was named Man-of-the-Match.
Azam had earlier struck his fifth ODI century and fourth in five matches against West Indies to help Pakistan recover from a sluggish start to rack up 282 for 5.
At their turn at the crease, West Indies were in trouble at the start with two wickets down for 44 runs. Only captain Holder was able to score 68 runs and was out in the 45 over to end the Windies innings at 208.
The West Indies are hoping they will win the final match and take the series 2-1 later this week.
