TAROUBA, Trinidad — The West Indies, buoyed by standout performances from Jayden Seales, Roston Chase, and Sherfane Rutherford, secured a vital five-wicket victory via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method against Pakistan in the second One-Day International on Sunday.
The result not only squared the three-match series at 1–1 but also lifted the Windies to ninth place in the ICC ODI rankings — the final automatic qualifying position for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Seales’ double strike sets the tone
At the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Pakistan’s openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub provided a steady start, putting on 37 runs. But in his fifth over, Seales ripped through the top order, first having Ayub caught at first slip by Justin Greaves for 23, then bowling Babar Azam for a three-ball duck — a devastating one-two punch that shifted control firmly to the hosts.
When rain halted play after 16 overs, Pakistan were struggling at 60 for two. The resumption brought no relief — Jediah Blades had Shafique caught at fine leg for 26, and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie trapped skipper Mohammad Rizwan lbw for 16.
From there, wickets fell steadily. Hussain Talat fought back with a lively 31 off 32 balls before Chase removed him via a sharp catch by Shai Hope behind the stumps. Salma Agha followed immediately, gloving a catch to Hope off Shamar Joseph without scoring, leaving Pakistan reeling at 114 for six.
Hasan Nawaz added some late defiance with an unbeaten 36 off 30 balls, including three towering sixes, alongside Shaheen Afridi (11 not out), before further showers ended the innings after 37 overs at 171 for seven.
Seales finished with brilliant figures of 3-23 from seven overs.
Early stumbles in the chase
Set a revised target of 181 in 35 overs, the West Indies stumbled early. Hasan Ali struck twice in quick succession, removing Brandon King and Evin Lewis caught behind, reducing the hosts to 12 for two.
A scratchy innings from Keacy Carty — 16 runs from 42 deliveries — ended when Abrar Ahmed bowled him, leaving the scoreboard at 48 for three in the 13th over.
Rutherford ignites the comeback
Enter Rutherford and Hope, who stitched together a momentum-shifting, 54-run partnership. Rutherford wasted no time, dismantling Pakistan’s attack with authority. He launched Shaheen Afridi for a six and two fours in the 17th over, then hammered Salma Agha for 20 runs in the next, including two sixes and two fours.
Pakistan hit back as Mohammad Nawaz claimed both in quick succession — Hope stumped for 32 off 35 balls and Rutherford caught at midwicket for a blistering 45 off 33 deliveries, featuring four fours and three sixes. The Windies suddenly found themselves at 107 for five.
Chase and Greaves seal the deal
Calm under pressure, Chase found an able partner in Greaves. The pair built an unbroken 77-run stand from 72 balls, weathering the Pakistan attack with composure. Chase overcame a nervous start, then shifted gears in the 27th over, dispatching Ayub for two towering sixes.
By the 34th over, the job was done. Chase finished unbeaten on 49 — just shy of back-to-back fifties after scoring 53 in the first ODI — while Greaves ended with a solid 26 not out.
Nawaz (2-17) and Ali (2-35) led Pakistan’s bowling effort, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Windies from forcing a series decider in the final ODI tomorrow.
