Hasan Nawaz conquers victory by 5 wickets
Hasan Nawaz, Pakistan’s happening batter , led his path to ODI debut and emerged victorious by whopping 5 wickets in their Pakistan vs West Indies series opener on Friday, 8th August 2025.
Nawaz remained undefeated on 63 off 54 balls as the achieving target was 281 in the first ODI. Debutant Hasan Nawhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjgn4qHuf6OAxXnTGwGHQn1BE8QFnoECGMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hindustantimes.com%2Fcricket%2Fhasan-nawazs-stars-in-pakistans-five-wicket-win-over-west-indies-in-1st-odi-101754713086683.html&usg=AOvVaw2AzftOIvl9fkTykTWU1LU7&opi=89978449az showed a phenomenal performance by hitting 3 sixes and 5 fours.
An amazing partnership was seen in between debutant Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat – who played his second game. Together they achieved a 104 run partnership leading Pakistan to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI Series and thus was Pakistan able to make a 5- wicket win.
West Indies scored 280 runs in the first innings with the help of three half -centuries, but Pakistan’s spinners stopped the hosts on low score thanks to Shaheen Shah Afridi (4 wickets for 51) and Nasim Shah (3 for 55) (3 wickets).
Most of Pakistan’s ODI success in the last one year depended on the brilliant start of Sam Ayub, so it seemed important that the West Indies neutralized the danger in the beginning, Jayden Seales took a bounce of rubber ball which took the edge of his bat and brought the ball to the goalkeeper’s gloves. Babur took time to settle, while Abdullah Shafiq performed brilliantly in a uniform speed innings, but due to a slight bounce, Shamar Joseph became so excited that his captain was forced to take a successful review.
Initially, it seemed that Babur and Rizwan’s worst innings looked in the third wicket partnership. Initially, at one time he was playing sixteen dot balls continuously because the rate of runs reached above six. As they often do, they made a comeback, scoring regular boundary and taking some two runs, and the rate of runs gradually came down to five runs. Whether it compensated for their slow start or did they become even more guilty, it is now a difficult question.
But the West Indies trusted their fast bowlers more than Pakistan, and bowled only one over spin till the 20th over. But it was no comment on Gudakesh Motie’s skills, who started harassing both, and eventually dismissed Babur when he went out of the field to hit a loud shot and was dismissed by licking the ball three runs before his half -century.
Salman Ali Agha was more active, but he lost a good start when he tossed a ball in a loud way that returned to Roston Chase. The price of Rizwan’s wicket was increasing with every wicket, and he had once again completed the half -century, when Joseph found the way to catch him out of the pad, this time the decision was given on the ground itself, which gave the West Indies lead.
Nawaz and Talat, who played an ODI in 2019 and had total sum of their 50 -over international experience, were barely able to defend at that time. Hasan scored just three runs off his first 12 balls, and looked weak in front of the spin. Shai Hope caught him out in the beginning because the ball could not go to his gloves in an attempt to slog, and with the increasing demand, Pakistan needed him till the end.
The situation started changing in the 39th over, till then the dew was becoming difficult to hold the ball. Talat hit two fours off the chase ball, before Joseph scored five wide and 17 runs in a rare over, which increased the demand rate more than seven. This was the required break for Pakistan so that it could pursue the innings at its own pace, and every player managed to put a boundary in an uncomfortable position.
There were four overs left and Nawaz was on 49 runs, Motie lost a very easy opportunity on short third, and as soon as the seals sat on their knees in mistrust, the end of the game was decided. Talat scored 15 runs in the next over, and Nawaz confirmed five balls later.