Posted by Siseko Tapile
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If you didn’t catch the second T20I between Pakistan and West Indies in Florida, you missed one of those rare matches where every ball makes your heart race. The Central Broward Regional Park Stadium saw the West Indies escape with a last-ball win, closing out the game by just two wickets and breathing new life into the series. With the series now tied 1-1, all eyes turn to the decider.
Popping up as the star of the day, Jason Holder grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck—first, wreaking havoc with the ball and then finishing the chase under the kind of pressure you don’t wish on your worst enemy. Let’s unravel how the drama unfolded.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha won the toss and opted to bat, hoping his side could set a solid target. That plan went out the window fast. Jason Holder made sure of that, dismissing both openers—Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub—before they’d even gotten their bearings, both out for just 7 runs each. Holder didn’t stop after the powerplay; he teased out wickets in the middle overs, too, running through the line-up like a knife through butter. He finished with 4 for 19 in his spell, surpassing T20 legend Dwayne Bravo as West Indies’ top wicket-taker in the format with 79 wickets.
Pushed on the back foot, Fakhar Zaman tried to counterattack but managed just 20. Pakistan’s hopes of a decent total faded as wickets fell at regular intervals—Mohammad Haris went for 4, while the rest of the middle order barely made a dent. By the final ball, Pakistan sputtered to 133 for 9. Not nearly enough, most thought. But chasing under lights is never simple in T20 cricket.
For the bowlers, only Gudakesh Motie’s figures were as eye-catching as Holder’s, and West Indies snapped up every half-chance on the field, ramping up the pressure on Pakistan’s batters from the get-go.
Both teams fielded strong line-ups. Pakistan’s attack featured Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, and spinners Faheem Ashraf and Sufiyan Muqeem. West Indies kept faith in their explosive pairing of Alick Athanaze and Jewel Andrew at the top, with skipper Shai Hope handling wicketkeeping duties.
Chasing 134 might seem straightforward, but the West Indies made it anything but. A solid start fizzled as wickets kept tumbling—Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, gave the Windies little room to breathe. Roston Chase and Shai Hope anchored the innings, but even they couldn’t convert promising starts.
Going into the last over, the pressure was on the Windies. Eight wickets down, three runs needed from one ball—most sides would buckle. Not Jason Holder. He stayed calm, soaked up the nerves and slammed the final ball for four, finishing unbeaten on 17. Shamar Joseph held his nerve, contributing a crucial 13 not out that kept the chase alive when it mattered most.
This win wasn’t just about Holder’s talent, but his temperament. The Windies dug deep, backing their senior pro when things threatened to spiral out of control. Pakistan will be left ruing their stumbles with the bat and in clutch moments on the field.
The series is now set up for a mouth-watering finish. With both sides trading blows, fans can count on more big hits, breakthroughs and drama in the decider. Cricket lovers would do themselves a favor by not missing out next time.