West Indies vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Pakistan tour of West Indies, 2021 Venue: Providence Stadium, Guyana Date & Time: Jul 31, 11:00 AM LOCAL

Pakistan's bowlers put up a fine show in the opening T20I which was abandoned due to rain © Getty

Pakistan take 1-0 lead

Despite Nicholas Pooran's valiant, unbeaten 62, the West Indies couldn't overhaul Pakistan's target of 158 on a sluggish wicket and slid to a seven-run loss. Meanwhile, Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 51, with Mohammad Hafeez giving away just six runs off four overs.

Pooran on the move

Pooran cracked a couple of sixes and a boundary off Wasim to keep the Windies in the game. Or rather slim hopes of winning. West Indies need Pollard to smash a few here.

He also collected a couple of boundaries off Shaheen. Even though the paceman got one of the yorkers on the money but it wasn't enough to stop the batter from getting an inside edge that scurried to the fence.

35 off 2 overs. Can Pollard land a few blows?

Lewis suffers cramp

Unfortunately for the hosts, Lewis suffered a cramp and he is walking back to the pavilion. The physio came out and Lewis took some fluids but he couldn't continue. Huge blow for the home side. Pollard walks out with his team in trouble.

Stumps rattled

Hetmyer and Lewis tried to prop up the innings. Lewis even tonked a slower one from Wasim over mid-off. However, with the required rate climbing to over 10 an over on a sluggish surface, Hetmyer tried to play across the line against Wasim but could only hear the death rattle.

Hasan into the act

Hasan Ali is a fine bowler against the left-handers. He went slightly wide of the crease and cleaned up Gayle with a fuller length ball. The West Indies are in early trouble on a slow pitch.

A wicket of the second ball for Hafeez

Hafeez opens the attack and strikes early as he sends back Fletcher for a duck. The batsman fails to get his bat in line with the ball, which goes past the outside edge and makes contact with the stumps.

He also completed his quota of four overs, giving away a mere six runs!

134 for 2 to 157 for 8

Pakistan lost a slew of wickets after the break. Dwayne Bravo and Holder bagged two scalps each after the break. Holder also was helped by Shepherd's brilliance at long-off where he grabbed a catch out of thin air to send Maqsood back to the hut.

Pakistan were 134 for 2 when rain arrived. And ended up with 157 for 8. Stunning collapse. Holder finished with excellent figures of 4 for 26.

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Toss and teams

West Indies took the field first option. At Guyana, on occasions, it can help the slower bowlers. So the hosts could have been in two minds. Pollard, though, believes there could be early morning moisture.

'It's hot and there's some breeze coming around towards the ground. It's a well prepared pitch, nice, hard and firm. The bounce will be low and will be less on pace as well. The spinners would like to bowl here. Toss might not matter a lot,' reckons Colin Croft, in his pitch report.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir

West Indies (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh, Akeal Hosein

Prelude:

Rain played spoilsport in the opening T20I between the West Indies and Pakistan in Barbados. However, the weather for today's game in Guyana is more promising.

Can Pakistan's bowlers continue the good work of the first T20I where they made regular incisions. Hasan Ali in particular looked in good rhythm and bagged a couple of scalps. Or will the big-hitters from the West Indies land the punches on what could be a slightly slow wicket.

Meanwhile, Azam Khan has been ruled out due to a head injury for two games.

We will have the action in a few minutes.