Seales’ Early Strikes and Rutherford’s Late Blitz Seal Win

West Indies vs Pakistan delivered a gripping contest in the second ODI at Tarouba, where the hosts overcame Pakistan by five wickets (DLS method) to level the series 1-1. Jayden Seales’ fiery opening spell, Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive hitting, and Roston Chase’s composed finish shaped a victory in a rain-hit game that swung both ways.

Seales Shatters Pakistan’s Top Order

Pakistan, sent in to bat first, struggled to adapt. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub found occasional boundaries but wasted too many deliveries. In the first ten overs, they managed only five singles.

Seales made the breakthrough in the ninth over. He dismissed Ayub after nine consecutive dot balls, exploiting extra pace and smart field placement from Shai Hope. Three balls later, Seales produced a peach to castle Babar Azam, leaving Pakistan rattled.

Mohammad Rizwan arrived but lacked intent. He crawled to 4 off 23 balls, further slowing momentum. A rain delay of 90 minutes disrupted rhythm even more. When play resumed, debutant Jediah Blades claimed Shafique’s wicket with a sharp edge behind.

Read: Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat Seal Thrilling Win

Middle-Order Struggles Continue

Gudakesh Motie trapped Rizwan in front, while Roston Chase got one to stay low and dismiss Hussain Talat. Salman Agha looked restricted in shot-making, relying on singles to third man before falling to Shamar Joseph’s well-directed bouncer.

Rain interrupted again, cutting Pakistan’s innings short to 37 overs. Hasan Nawaz provided late fireworks, scoring freely in the final overs before another downpour ended the innings at 171 for 7. Under DLS, West Indies faced a revised target of 181 in 35 overs.

Hasan Ali Strikes Back for Pakistan

Chasing a modest total, West Indies were rocked early by Hasan Ali. He removed both openers within his first two overs, creating pressure. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed then tied down the scoring rate, extracting turn and keeping the batters quiet.

Keacy Carty struggled particularly, managing just three singles from his first 26 balls. Pakistan sensed control, but their fifth-bowling options proved costly. Ayub’s single over went for 10 runs, and Salman Agha’s for 11, releasing the pressure.

Rutherford Turns the Game

With the required rate climbing above six, Rizwan brought Shaheen Afridi back into the attack. Rutherford seized the moment. In the 17th over, he smashed two fours and a six, taking 17 runs off Afridi. Rizwan then turned to Salman, but Rutherford punished him too, cutting 20 more runs from the target in quick time.

This onslaught gave West Indies breathing room. They played Nawaz and Abrar with respect, but the spinners continued to fight. Nawaz dismissed Hope with sharp turn and later removed Rutherford, caught at square leg. However, with Nawaz bowled out, Pakistan’s control weakened.

Chase Anchors the Finish

Roston Chase took charge, hitting two sixes off Ayub’s over to bring the required rate under six. From there, the hosts kept the scoreboard moving with smart singles and calculated boundaries.

Justin Greaves, initially tentative against spin, grew confident against pace. His flicked six over mid-on against Hasan Ali was a standout shot. The equation became straightforward, and West Indies kept calm.

With just ten balls left, Chase drove crisply through the off side to seal the win, sparking celebrations among the Trinidad crowd.

Key Takeaways from the Match

This West Indies vs Pakistan clash showcased how momentum shifts can define a game. Seales’ early breakthroughs put Pakistan under immense pressure, while Rutherford’s explosive counterattack flipped the chase. Pakistan’s inability to rotate strike early and their expensive fifth-bowling overs proved decisive.

The victory not only levels the series but also sets up a thrilling decider. For West Indies, it’s proof of their growing composure in pressure situations. For Pakistan, it’s a reminder that in modern ODI cricket, dot-ball pressure and bowling depth can decide outcomes.