Jason Holder delivered a match-winning all-round performance, taking four wickets and then striking a boundary off the final delivery to guide West Indies to a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20 International in Florida. The win not only levelled the three-match series 1-1 but also marked West Indies' first T20 win in seven outings.
Holder, the veteran all-rounder, bowled a superb spell, claiming 4 for 19 in his four overs, as Pakistan, after choosing to bat first, managed only 133 for 9 on a sluggish, spin-friendly surface. The Caribbean side also struggled in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals and finding boundaries hard to come by, but held their nerve in a tense finish.
Pakistan had been in early trouble at 53 for 4 in the 10th over, but a steadying partnership between Hasan Nawaz (40 off 23) and captain Salman Agha (38 off 33) gave them a fighting total. However, the momentum never quite swung fully in Pakistan’s favour as the West Indies bowlers, led by Holder, continued to apply pressure throughout the innings.
In response, West Indies' chase got off to a scratchy start, and Pakistan’s spinners, especially Mohammad Nawaz, who returned excellent figures of 3 for 14, made scoring tough. Saim Ayub also chipped in with 2 for 20, and when he dismissed Roston Chase in the 14th over, the Windies were reeling at 70 for 5.
But late cameos turned the tide. Gudakesh Motie struck a crucial 28 off 20 balls to keep the West Indies in the contest, followed by Romario Shepherd’s brisk 15 from 11 balls. Shepherd’s effort included 10 vital runs in the penultimate over off Hasan Ali, bringing the equation down to eight runs needed off the last over.
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Shahid Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s pace spearhead, removed Shepherd on the second delivery of the final over. Singles followed on the next three balls, and with West Indies needing three off the last ball, Afridi bowled a wide under pressure, leaving two to win. Holder, who remained unbeaten on 16 off 10 deliveries, then expertly placed the final ball through backward square for four, sealing a dramatic victory for his side.
“This has been a tough couple of weeks for us,” West Indies skipper Shai Hope admitted after the match. “We’ve been working hard and hoping this is the turnaround we’ve been looking for.” Player-of-the-match Holder acknowledged the criticism the team had faced in recent weeks. “We haven’t done justice to our potential,” he said. “Consistency has definitely plagued us. But this was a much-needed win.”
The series decider will be played in Lauderhill on Sunday, followed by a One-Day International series in the Caribbean.
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