Pakistan’s ODI captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has attributed his team’s defeat in the rain-affected second ODI against the West Indies to a challenging pitch and their batting struggles. Speaking at a post-match press conference on Sunday, Rizwan admitted that the team had aimed for a higher score but couldn’t fully adapt to the conditions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. “We made 180, thought 200 was possible. The pitch was difficult, with both spin and seam. The way Chase and Rutherford played changed the momentum,” he stated.
Bowling Depth and Team Strategy
Addressing questions about the bowling attack, particularly the fifth bowler’s performance, Rizwan acknowledged some expensive spells but emphasized the importance of having multiple options. “They went for runs, but in the last year, Ayub and Salman have bowled well. You want options with the ball. Ayub did well in the T20s but didn’t do it today. It happens,” he explained, adding that the unpredictable weather had also influenced their strategy.
Match Summary
The 35-over contest saw the West Indies successfully chase down a target of 181 in 33.2 overs, securing a five-wicket win to level the series at 1-1. Pakistan started strong with Hasan Ali removing both Brandon King (1) and Evin Lewis (7) early on. However, Sherfane Rutherford‘s quickfire 45 off 33 balls and captain Shai Hope‘s contribution of 32 turned the tide. Roston Chase (49 not out) and Justin Greaves (26 not out) then guided the home side to victory with an unbroken 73-run partnership.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings was hampered by Jayden Seales, who took the key wickets of Saim Ayub (23) and Babar Azam (0). Hussain Talat (31) and Hasan Nawaz (36 not out) provided some late resistance, helping Pakistan reach a total of 180 for 6. The third and final ODI will now serve as the series decider at the same venue.
