Pakistan won by 5 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Khushdil Shah
Batter
Bowler
That is it from game 1! Pakistan on expected lines have taken the lead but Windies did give them a scare. They just messed the crucial moments but a young team like theirs will learn. The second game is not too far away either. We will be there to roll out every detail. Till then tadaaaaaaaa!
Babar Azam: I always try to continue my game and work on my strengths. There was a little bit of a problem during the calling when I was batting with Imam. But it got better as the partnership moved on. The wicket was a little double-paced and wasn't that easy. There was heat but that is not an excuse. Credit to the bowlers. Shadab came back and did well. The standards he sets on the field is brilliant as well. Cricket is changing. We have to plan and play with a lot of intensity. Outstanding finish from Khushdil. You have to take it deep so that there is less pressure on the finishers.
Khushdil Shah: The situation I was in, I tried to take it deep. I have been working on my hitting for the last two years. The coaching camp in the last 10-12 days has helped. The coaches have helped me during this time. I was waiting for the balls to come to into my zone.
Babar Azam has given away his Man of the Match award to Khushdil Shah.
Nic Pooran: Proud of the guys. It was really hot today. Pakistan are a world-class team. Babar showed his class. Proud of the guys as they gave their all today. We tried to swing the ball upfront. There was no swing. Then we tried to bowl into the pitch. The wicket was pretty good even in the night. We are a young team and a young bowling lineup. We can only go forward. Hope is one of the best batters in this format.
00:41 Local Time, 19:41 GMT, 01:11 IST: Pakistan take a 1-0 lead. 10 super league points for them and Multan's wait for international cricket has ended with a wonderful win for Pakistan. Cricket returned to Multan after 14 years and the fans were treated with the runs coming at a fast clip. Hope got a classy ton only to be eclipsed by another fine one by the ton machine - Babar Azam. Windies did a decent job with the bat and the ball but fell short at crucial moments. Khushdil also played a blinder towards the end to tilt the game firmly in favour of the hosts. It went down to the wire and that's exactly what this format wants as well. Hang on for the presentation ceremony.
Jayden Seales to Mohammad Nawaz, SIX, short ball, Mohammad Nawaz gets behind the delivery and pumps it over wide long-on for a sixer. That was hit hard and over the fence. That's it. Pakistan win the first ODI
Jayden Seales to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, back of a length delivery, looks to slog and misses
Jayden Seales [9.0-1-47-1] is back into the attack
END OF OVER 49
15 Runs
PAK: 300 - 5
1 2 4 2 6 0
Khushdil Shah
41 (23)
Mohammad Nawaz
2 (4)
Romario Shepherd
9-0-70-1
Shepherd to Khushdil, no run, finishes with a dot but the damage has been done. Was a fuller delivery outside off and Khushdil fails to dig it out
Shepherd to Khushdil, SIX, agony for Walsh, more of that for the Windies side. Khushdil is stealing this away. That was short, outside off and Khushdil pumps the pull over deep mid for a sixer. Was hit hard and over the fielder at deep mid. Only a shot away now Pakistan from taking a 1-0 lead
Shepherd to Khushdil, 2 runs, low full toss outside off and the man at deep point does a poor job to allow the second. Walsh lobs a throw at the keeper's end and that allows Khushdil to be back on strike
Shepherd to Khushdil, FOUR, that's cheeky! This man has talent. Walks across his sticks and paddles it just past the short fine fielder for a four. The fielder dived but failed to grab it
Shepherd to Khushdil, 2 runs, that was right up there. Khushdil drags the ball down past the dive of the bowler to steal a second. 18 needed now
Shepherd to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, misses the yorker but the low full toss was slammed down to deep mid for a single. Shepherd is under the pump
21 needed off the last 2 overs.
END OF OVER 48
3 Runs
PAK: 285 - 5
1 1 W 0 0 1
Mohammad Nawaz
1 (3)
Khushdil Shah
27 (18)
Alzarri Joseph
10-0-55-2
Alzarri Joseph to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, gets cramped on the short ball and Mohammad Nawaz mistimes the pull past the square leg ump for a single
Alzarri Joseph to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, stabs that down into the off-side and the man at cover cuts it off. He wanted a single but was sent back
Alzarri Joseph to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, bangs it in short and it is one for the over says the ump. That was banged in pretty well
Mohammad Nawaz, left handed bat, comes to the crease