Hey cricket fans, what a rollercoaster that 2nd ODI between Pakistan and West Indies turned out to be! Played on August 10, 2025, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, this match had everything – rain interruptions, some fiery bowling, and a nail-biting chase that kept us all glued to our screens. After Pakistan took the first game, the Windies came roaring back to level the series at 1-1 with a solid 5-wicket victory under the DLS method. If you're catching up, here's my take on the key moments and standout performances.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but boy, did the weather play spoilsport. A 90-minute rain delay right at the start set the tone, and the innings got cut down to 37 overs. The Pakistani openers, Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, looked shaky from the get-go. Shafique scratched around for 15 off 35 balls before getting out, and Ayub fell early to Jayden Seales' swing. Babar Azam, the skipper, couldn't get going either, nicking one to the keeper for just 9. Mohammad Rizwan started slow too – imagine facing 23 dots before scoring! He managed only 4 runs before edging out.
The middle order tried to steady things, but it was a grind. Hussain Talat chipped in with a gritty 31, and Hasan Nawaz played a smart unbeaten knock of 36, accelerating towards the end. But Pakistan could only muster 171/7 in their 37 overs. The Windies bowlers were on fire, especially young Jayden Seales who grabbed 3/23, including those crucial early wickets. Jediah Blades picked up his first ODI scalp, and spinners like Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase kept the run rate in check. Honestly, Pakistan's batting felt a bit too cautious – too many dots in the powerplay killed the momentum.
Then came another rain break, tweaking the target for West Indies to 181 in 35 overs. The chase started with fireworks, but Pakistan's pacers struck back hard. Hasan Ali was pumped up, snagging two quick wickets in his first two overs – dismissing Justin Greaves after a massive six and then Keacy Carty. Shaheen Afridi bowled tight lines, but Sherfane Rutherford decided to take him on. Rutherford's 17-run over off Shaheen, with two fours and a huge six, was pure class – he raced to 45 before Mohammad Nawaz got him lbw.
Shai Hope anchored with 32, but Nawaz's spin spell (2/17) brought Pakistan right back into it, dismissing Hope and Rutherford in quick succession. At one point, Windies were wobbling at 112/5, and the required rate was creeping up. Enter Roston Chase – the man of the match! His unbeaten 49 off 47 balls was calm under pressure, mixing solid defense with timely aggression. He smashed two sixes off part-timer Saim Ayub in a 17-run over that sealed the deal. Windies cruised to 184/5 in 33.2 overs, winning with 10 balls to spare.
What stood out? West Indies' ability to handle Pakistan's spinners on a tricky pitch – Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed tried everything, but Chase and Rutherford's partnership turned the tide. For Pakistan, the bowling was decent (Hasan Ali 2/35), but the batting needs more firepower upfront. This sets up a decider in the 3rd ODI – can't wait!
If you're a Pak fan, it was a tough watch, but credit to Windies for bouncing back. Drop your thoughts in the comments – who do you think wins the series?
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