New Delhi: The West Indies ended 34-year wait with a historic win over Pakistan, sealing a 2-1 ODI series victory with a crushing 202 run win in the deciding match at the Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad on Tuesday.
In a statement, the International Cricket Council said, “The West Indies have broken a drought of 34 years with an emphatic 202-run series-clinching victory over Pakistan in Trinidad on Tuesday. Skipper Shai Hope led from the front with an unbeaten innings of 120 to help the West Indies post 294/6 and pacer Jayden Seales collected six wickets in reply as Pakistan were bundled out for just 92 to ensure the home side registered a 2-1 series triumph.”
It was West Indies first bilateral ODI series win over Pakistan since November 1991. Hope's 18th ODI century moved him past former great Desmond Haynes (17) and into third place for the most hundreds by a West Indies men's player with Chris Gayle (25) and Brian Lara (19) ahead of him.
The ICC release noted, “The West Indies had looked in trouble when Gudakesh Motie fell for five in the 42nd over and the score at 184/6, but Hope and Justin Greaves (43 not out) combined well with some lofty late hitting to ensure the hosts posted a decent total at Brian Lara Stadium.”
The ICC added that the result will give the West Indies “plenty of confidence” as they attempt to earn a place at the next edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2027 after they missed out on qualifying for the most recent tournament in India in 2023.
Seales’ 6/18 was the third best bowling performance by a West Indian in ODI history. “Seales then ripped through Pakistan's top-order to leave the visitors reeling at 23/4 and the in-form right-armer returned at the death to clean up the tail to finish with the third best figures (6/18) by a West Indies bowler in the history of men's ODI cricket,” as per the ICC.
Hope hailed the win as a turning point. “We had a complete game and I am extremely proud of us beating Pakistan after so long,” he said in an ICC statement. “We stress on negatives a lot in the West Indies and there are so many positives to shout about and it was great to see the guys pulling off history.”
Seales was named Player of the Series for his 10 wickets across the three matches. Hope lauded the young pacer, saying, “Seales is a quality bowler...he's a class act. Anything you ask him to do, he puts his hands up. He's at his best across formats.”
