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T20: Shehzad's fifty takes Pak past Windies to win series

April 03, 2017 11:12 IST

The Pakistan cricket team celebrate with the trophy after defeating West Indies in the fourth and final T20 to win the series 3-1

IMAGE: The Pakistan cricket team celebrate with the trophy after defeating West Indies in the fourth and final T20 to win the series 3-1. Photograph: PCB/Twitter

A patient half-century from opener Ahmed Shehzad helped Pakistan defeat West Indies by seven wickets in the final T20 at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday, to clinch the four-match series 3-1.

Chasing a small target of 125 to seal the series, Pakistan never looked in any sort of trouble and comfortably reached the target with one over to spare.

Pakistan rode on the innings of a resilient batting display from Shehzad, who scored 53 off 45 balls, and anchored the run chase. His inning included six fours and one six. He was well supported by Babar Azam, who scored 38 off 36.

Kesrick Williams turned out to be the pick of the bowlers for West Indies taking two wickets, whereas part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels claimed one wicket.

Earlier, the hosts were able to put up only 124 for the loss of eight wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, owing to some excellent seam bowling performance by Pakistan.

Young pacer Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees displayed admirable accuracy and discipline, and took three wickets in tandem besides bowling three maidens as well.

18-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan also claimed 2-16 off his four overs, removing opener Chadwick Walton for a top score of 40 before coming back in the midst of the West Indies collapse to remove Jason Holder for a duck.

Hasan was named the Man of the Match for his figures of 2-12 while Shadab was adjudged Man of the Series.

The two teams will now lock horns in the first ODI of the three-match series beginning April 7 at Providence Stadium, Guyana.

Source: ANI