Pakistan whitewash West Indies

ABU DHABI: Pakistan produced another dominating performance to beat world champions West Indies by eight wickets in the third and final Twenty20 international, achieving their first ever clean sweep on Tuesday.

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim chipped in with 3-21 -- nine wickets in the series -- as West Indies crawled to 103-5 in their 20 overs after Pakistan once again caught them napping by putting them in on a slow and low Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan then wiped off the target with Shoaib Malik, who made 43 not out, hitting the winning six off the first ball of the 15th over. Marlon Samuels scored 42 not out while Kieron Pollard made an unbeaten 16.

“Credit to the boys to keep their cool in this heat,” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed. “It was a team effort. We knew we shouldn’t lose focus coming into this game.

“The bowlers deserve credit for restricting a good team on a good pitch. We didn't over-attack, what's happening let it happen and it's a great win.”

And West Indian skipper Carlos Brathwaite once again blamed poor batting.

“We didn't bat well in the first six overs in all three games,” said Brathwaite, who replaced World Twenty20.

“We never got a competitive total but Pakistan outplayed us in all three games.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2016.