The 2nd One-Day International (ODI) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba fizzed as Pakistan tried to recover from a poor first match in the WI vs PAK 2025 series. The Men in Green looked determined for the chase as they finished at 171 in their 37 overs with a DLS-revised target to chase. What was going to be a tough score quickly became missed opportunities and pressure, as the West Indies chased it down with 10 balls remaining for a five-wicket win over Pakistan. So what went wrong for Pakistan? Here are three wrong turns that meant a marathon match fell away from them.
WI vs PAK 2025 : Batting Collapse at Crucial Moments
It is abundantly clear that the batting order fell under pressure at the time it was most needed. Both Saim Ayub (23) and Abdullah Shafique (26) made decent starts, yet the batting order quickly fell apart as wickets kept tumbling. The biggest loss obviously was captain Babar Azam, who was out for a duck, courtesy of a fired-up opening spell from Jayden Seales, whose effect had disturbed the tempo of the batting order.
The team also struggled to find a tempo in the middle order, and the run rate collapsed to 4.62; not even experienced campaigners like Rizwan (16) could get started. This meant the team couldn’t rely on any support from the lower order. The inability to form partnerships, or play to a tempo, and the effect of doing so resulted in a total that was anything but optimal and more of a sitting duck than a target.
Jayden Seales and Roston Chase’s Game-Changing Performance
The breakthrough for the West Indies came from Jayden Seales, whose bowling performance stalled Pakistan’s momentum. Seales staked three major wickets, including the significant wicket of Babar, found reason to attack at the right times, and had the Pakistan batsmen guessing at the crease with his consistency and accuracy. The pressure from the West Indies bowlers was placed on the Pakistan batsmen in enough time, but it was not only the bowling unit.
Roston Chase played a captain’s innings in the middle order with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 49 runs from 47 balls, as well as navigating the chase in the tense moments. Chase’s steady head and controlled innings were almost counter-attacking for Pakistan as he handled their workload whilst Sherfane Rutherford came like a thunderstorm and struck 45 runs from only 33 balls, stripping the impetus squarely with the hosts again.
Fielding Lapses and Tactical Shortcomings
Finally, a host of situational factors helped weigh the scales away from Pakistan. The fielding unit, typically a strength and their last line of defence, was shaky with dropped chances and poor ground work at times, which allowed West Indies to creep under pressure. In the crucial death overs, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali’s attack was unable to contain the opposition, giving away key runs.
A reliance on only a few star players showed up a benched player list consisting of little depth; the middle order was unable to deal with the pitches and, more importantly, the DLS calculations, which hardly provided more freedom than a house arrest situation. It appeared Pakistan’s strategy was stuck in the mud — not aggressive enough to take control, but not set and strong enough to counter the West Indies’ fightback.
To salvage the series, Pakistan needs to be more than bright; they need to be tight, composed, and execute better throughout the performances moving forward.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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