Pakistan completed a 3-0 series sweep in Karachi on Thursday with their highest Twenty20 international run-chase, a seven-wicket win over the West Indies.
Mohammad Rizwan hit 87 off 45 balls and captain Babar Azam hit 79 as the opening pair put on 158 to help Pakistan reach a target of 208 in 18.5 overs in a match that was nearly called off due to Covid allegations.
Despite the fact that five members of the West Indies squad, including three players, tested positive on Thursday, the match was eventually approved.
After three players and a staff member tested positive on Saturday, the total number of positive cases in the tourists’ camp rose to nine.
West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran hit a career-best 37-ball 64 with six sixes and two fours as his side finished on 207-3.
Pakistan won the first match by a margin of 63 runs and the second by a margin of nine runs, both in Karachi.
This is their seventh 3-0 victory in Twenty20 internationals, and their third against the West Indies.
With a 158-run stand in 15 overs, Rizwan, who overturned a first-ball leg-before decision against him, and Babar took the attack to the West Indies bowlers.
Babar holed out to long-off after hitting nine fours and two sixes in his 53-ball knock.
Babar and Rizwan’s sixth century stand in Twenty20 internationals is the most by any pair in the format this year.
Rizwan, who hit ten fours and three sixes, was defeated by a miscued shot off Dominic Drakes with only 24 to go.
Rizwan finished the calendar year with 1,326 runs in 29 matches, the most by any batsman in T20 internationals.
In his 21-run victory, Asif Ali hit two sixes and as many fours.
“This victory is a great sign for me as a captain,” Babar said. “We’re all aware that runs are becoming more valuable in T20I cricket, and the way we’re scoring is the best thing for us.”
Rizwan also became the first player in domestic and international history to score 2,000 T20 runs in a calendar year. In 48 T20 games, he scored 2,036 runs.
“The way Rizwan has played through 2021, the way he has improved his batting, is a great learning experience for youngsters,” Babar added.
The hosts finished 2021 with six wins in eight T20I series, winning 20 of the 29 matches, a T20I calendar year record.
Pakistan’s previous best run chase was 204, which they achieved against South Africa in Centurion in April of this year.
West Indies batted much better after a poor showing in the first two matches, but Pooran felt his team could have posted a higher total.
