Pakistan v West Indies, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, Pakistan v West Indies, 2016-17
15-Apr-2017
At Dubai, September 23, 2016 (floodlit). Pakistan won by nine wickets. Toss: Pakistan. Twenty20 international debut: N. Pooran.
Imad Wasim's bowling set up a nine-wicket shellacking of the world champions. With a style that could have emerged only in the Twenty20 era - not so much a spinner as a slow left-arm in-dipper - he picked up three victims in his first two overs to set the course of the match. West Indies had endured their worst powerplay (25 for five), and slumped to 48 for eight before Dwayne Bravo and Taylor - the only two to make double figures - added 66. Wasim ended with five for 14, becoming only the second Pakistani to take a Twenty20 international five-for after Umar Gul, who did it twice. Under the new captaincy of Sarfraz Ahmed, a world removed from his stale predecessor Shahid Afridi, a pursuit of 116 was never an issue. Sharjeel Khan got them going before Babar Azam, elegantly and clinically, finished things off well ahead of time.
Man of the Match: Imad Wasim.
Imad Wasim's bowling set up a nine-wicket shellacking of the world champions. With a style that could have emerged only in the Twenty20 era - not so much a spinner as a slow left-arm in-dipper - he picked up three victims in his first two overs to set the course of the match. West Indies had endured their worst powerplay (25 for five), and slumped to 48 for eight before Dwayne Bravo and Taylor - the only two to make double figures - added 66. Wasim ended with five for 14, becoming only the second Pakistani to take a Twenty20 international five-for after Umar Gul, who did it twice. Under the new captaincy of Sarfraz Ahmed, a world removed from his stale predecessor Shahid Afridi, a pursuit of 116 was never an issue. Sharjeel Khan got them going before Babar Azam, elegantly and clinically, finished things off well ahead of time.
Man of the Match: Imad Wasim.