Rutherford blitz, Chase’s control hands West Indies series-levelling win

West Indies 184 for 5 (Chase 49, Rutherford 45, Mohammad Nawaz 2-17) beat Pakistan 171 for 7 (Hasan Nawaz 36, Talat 31, Seales 3-23) by 5 wickets

West Indies overcame Pakistan’s spinners and the weather to claim a five-wicket victory and level the series 1-1. In a chase that ebbed and flowed, a blitz from Sherfane Rutherford and a composed finish from Roston Chase saw the hosts home with two overs to spare. Their task was made trickier than it might have been, after Jayden Seales’ standout fast-bowling spell had restricted Pakistan to 171 for 7 in 37 overs — a target that edged upwards due to multiple rain interruptions in the first innings.

Put in to bat first, Pakistan played stodgy cricket out of step with the modern ODI tempo. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub found the occasional Powerplay boundary but interspersed those with long strings of dot balls; in the first ten overs, they managed only five singles. When extra pace and shrewd fielding plans drew an outside edge from Ayub in the ninth over, it was the ninth consecutive delivery he had faced without scoring. Three balls later, Babar Azam was cleaned up by a Seales special that burst through the gate to rattle his stumps, putting West Indies firmly on top.

Mohammad Rizwan arrived but left his positivity in the dressing room, managing only 4 from his first 23 balls. A 90-minute rain delay did nothing to help Pakistan’s momentum. Shortly after the resumption, Jediah Blades claimed his maiden ODI wicket, drawing an edge from Shafique to end his painstaking stay at the crease.

As scoring became increasingly difficult, West Indies’ seamers and spinners kept chipping away. Gudakesh Motie trapped the Pakistan captain in front, while Chase got a delivery to stay low and under-edge Hussain Talat, ending what had been a comparatively brighter innings. Salman Ali Agha, limited to nudges to deep third, was undone by a surprise short ball from Shamar Joseph, top-edging a catch.

Another rain delay shortened the innings, favouring Pakistan in the death overs. Hasan Nawaz seized the chance to attack, scoring freely in what became a seven-over shootout. He added 32 runs in 3.1 overs, but Pakistan’s hopes of a strong finish were washed away when rain returned, wiping out their final three overs.

Set a revised target of 181 in 35 overs, West Indies’ chase was jolted early by Hasan Ali, who took wickets in each of his first two overs. The hosts found themselves in the same slow-scoring mire that had trapped Pakistan. Sensing an opportunity, Rizwan introduced spin after six overs, and Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed quickly applied the squeeze.

The run rate dipped sharply, with Keacy Carty contributing just three singles from his first 26 balls, piling pressure on his captain. Pakistan’s fifth bowling option proved costly — Ayub leaked 10 runs from his only over, and Agha went for 11 in another. With the asking rate climbing above six, Rizwan turned to Shaheen Afridi, but Rutherford seized the moment, striking two fours and a six to plunder 17 from the over. Another from Agha disappeared for 20, slashing the target further.

This gave West Indies breathing space to handle Abrar and Nawaz more cautiously. Nawaz, though, still struck — first having Shai Hope stumped, then inducing Rutherford into a mis-hit to square leg. This came during an eight-over spell that produced just 17 runs, but crucially, Nawaz’s quota was completed. Chase then took Ayub for two sixes, bringing the required rate back under six, where it stayed for the rest of the match.

Pakistan’s returning quicks lacked the earlier bite, allowing West Indies to work them for singles and the occasional boundary. Justin Greaves, uncertain earlier against spin, now looked assured — his wristy flick over mid-on for six off Hasan Ali arguably the shot of the innings. By this stage, the equation was purely academic, and Chase’s crisp drive through the off side sealed a topsy-turvy win on a day when every result seemed possible at some point, before settling on the one the Trinidad crowd had been hoping to see. (ESPNcricinfo)