Lame Windies lose again in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan, (CMC):

An out-of-sorts West Indies fared little better in the second Twenty20 International, producing another insipid display in an 82-run defeat, to concede the three-match series to Pakistan here yesterday.

Only 24 hours after being dismissed for their lowest-ever T20 total and suffering the second heaviest defeat in the format, West Indies once again failed to show any enterprise, crashing to 123 all out with four balls left, in pursuit of an intimidating 206 at the National Stadium.

Opener Chadwick Walton belted a top score of 40 from 29 balls, but veteran Denesh Ramdin with 21, was the only other batsman to make it past 20.

The Windies found their scoring restricted early on and crawled to 92 for three before the pressure told and they lost their last seven wickets for 31 runs.

Left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir led the hosts attack with three for 22, while seamer Hussain Talat (2-12) and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-23) supported with two wickets apiece.

Babar Azam had earlier narrowly missed out on a maiden T20 International hundred, when he finished unbeaten on 97, as Pakistan piled up 205 for three off their 20 overs - their highest-ever T20 total, while passing the 200-run mark for a second straight game.

Talat, who debuted on Sunday, stroked 63 to also take advantage of a ragged Windies bowling effort, which mirrored Sunday's performance.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan suffered an early loss when Fakhar Zaman perished for six in the second over with the score on 11, gloving a pull at seamer Rayad Emrit through to wicketkeeper Ramdin.

However, immediate further success proved illusive as Babar and Talat combined in an excellent 119-run, second wicket stand, which put Pakistan in a commanding position.