PAK vs WI| Babar and Pooran credit Mohammad Nawaz for Pakistan’s magnificent victory

Continuing their surreal form in ODIs, Pakistan registered a brilliant victory over the West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series in Multan yesterday. Chasing a total of 276, the visitors were bundled out for a paltry 155, which resulted in a massive 120-run victory for the home side. 

Mohammad Nawaz was the star for Pakistan as the budding spin bowling allrounder picked four wickets, conceding mere nineteen runs in his full quota of ten overs. Nawaz, who has established himself as a vital cog of Pakistan's white-ball teams since Imad Wasim's ouster, dismissed Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell, dismantling the visitors' middle-order singlehandedly. 

In the post-match presentation, the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam heaped praises on the young spinner by terming his performance 'outstanding'. The stylish batter from Lahore also credited Nawaz for swinging the game into Pakistan's favour by picking wickets at crucial junctures of the match. Further, Babar revealed that he had anticipated good performance from the team's spinners, which eventually turned out to be accurate. 

"Nawaz was outstanding. He picked wickets at crucial moments", Babar said. "I was confident that our spinners would bowl well," he added. 

Babar said that the entire unit was confident of defending the total during the innings-break. However, the Pakistani captain admitted to being under the pump after the first ten overs but also expressed his satisfaction with the way his team made a remarkable comeback in the match. 

"We were confident at the break that we would defend this. We were under pressure after the first ten overs, but really happy with how we fought back," the 27-year-old concluded. 

On the other hand, the West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran blamed their death bowling and some soft dismissals during the chase for this harsh defeat. Terming the surface as a challenging one, the dynamic southpaw also applauded Nawaz for his fantastic bowling. 

"Tough day for us. I thought we bowled well in the first 45 overs but conceded 20 too many. Credit must be given to Nawaz, who bowled really well. It was definitely a challenging wicket. There were some soft dismissals, and it wasn't our day," Pooran said. 

With this victory, Pakistan have clinched the series. The final dead rubber will be played on Sunday (12 June), which the visitors would certainly like to win to end the tour on a high note.