Pakistan Seal T20I Series with 13-Run Victory in Lauderhill Thriller

Pakistan clinched a 2-1 series victory over West Indies in the 3rd T20I at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida, on August 3, 2025, winning by 13 runs in a high-octane encounter. A commanding 138-run opening stand by Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, followed by a late flurry and disciplined bowling, ensured Pakistan’s seventh consecutive T20I series triumph over West Indies.

Match Summary

• Pakistan Innings: 189/4 (20 overs; Saim Ayub 65, Sahibzada Farhan 62, Shamar Joseph 3/30)
• West Indies Innings: 176/6 (20 overs; Jewel Andrew 35, Johnson Charles 35, Mohammad Nawaz 3/23, Sufiyan Muqeem 2/15)
• Result: Pakistan won by 13 runs
• Player of the Match: Saim Ayub (PAK, 65 off 38 & 2/20)
• Series Result: Pakistan won 2-1

Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat on the best batting surface of the series. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a 138-run partnership, the highest of the series. Ayub’s aggressive 65 (38 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Farhan’s steady 62 (45 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) provided a solid foundation. However, West Indies’ bowlers, led by Shamar Joseph (3/30), restricted boundaries with dot balls and singles, keeping Pakistan’s run rate at 8.50 with four overs remaining.

The game shifted in the death overs as Hasan Nawaz’s quickfire 18 (8 balls, 2 sixes), including a six off his fourth ball, sparked a late surge. Pakistan smashed five sixes in the final four overs, with a 20-run 20th over propelling them to 189/4, a challenging total. Joseph’s removal of Farhan in the 17th over and Akeal Hosein’s tight 1/31 were highlights for West Indies, but Pakistan’s power-hitting proved decisive.

West Indies started explosively, racing to 33 in the first two overs, with Johnson Charles (35 off 36) and Jewel Andrew (35 off 33) setting a brisk pace. Mohammad Nawaz’s off-spin (3/23) turned the tide, dismissing Charles and Sherfane Rutherford in the Powerplay, leaving West Indies at 34/2 after six overs. Sufiyan Muqeem’s magnificent 17th over, where he castled Jason Holder for a two-ball duck, and Haris Rauf’s fiery 17th (2/25) derailed the chase. Needing 49 off the last four overs, West Indies faltered despite a late thrash, finishing at 176/6. Pakistan’s spinners, backed by Shaheen Afridi’s 1/28, ensured the hosts fell 13 runs short.

• Ayub’s All-Round Brilliance: Saim Ayub’s 65 and 2/20, including key wickets in the middle overs, earned him Player of the Match. His adaptability on a challenging pitch was lauded, as he noted post-match: “It was about staying in the present and not panicking.”
• Nawaz and Muqeem’s Spin Web: Nawaz’s 3/23 and Muqeem’s 2/15 strangled West Indies’ middle order, with Muqeem’s removal of Holder proving pivotal.
• Late Surge: Pakistan’s 61 runs in the final four overs, including five sixes, turned a par score into a winning one.
• Fakhar’s Absence: Fakhar Zaman, ruled out with a hamstring injury, was missed, but Ayub and Farhan’s partnership filled the void.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha praised the team’s composure, stating, “Our spinners and death bowling made the difference.” West Indies captain Shai Hope rued missed opportunities, saying, “We got the start we needed but couldn’t capitalize.” Posts on X echoed Pakistan’s dominance, with @TheRealPCB celebrating the “seventh consecutive T20I series win” and fans debating whether Ayub, Nawaz, or Muqeem deserved Player of the Series.

After Pakistan’s 14-run win in the 1st T20I and West Indies’ last-ball heroics in the 2nd, led by Jason Holder’s 4/19, this victory sealed Pakistan’s 2-1 series triumph. The result boosts Pakistan’s confidence ahead of the Asia Cup, while West Indies, reeling from a 5-0 loss to Australia earlier, face a challenging three-match ODI series in Trinidad starting August 8.

Pakistan’s clinical performance, driven by Ayub and Farhan’s opening stand and their spinners’ guile, outclassed a spirited West Indies side. The match, played under balmy Lauderhill conditions, showcased Pakistan’s depth and adaptability. As both teams now shift focus to the ODIs, Pakistan carry momentum, while West Indies seek redemption at home.