West Indies complete 106-run chase in just 82 balls to thrash Pakistan

All over by 2pm and it was the West Indies’ firepower – war by bouncer – that did it.

The big men in maroon evoked their forebears’ destructive fame to blow Pakistan apart for just 105 in 21.4 one-sided overs before an early lunch. A run-fest was predicted, a demolition occurred.

Oshane Thomas, a raw 22-year-old Jamaican, led the way on paper at least with four wickets, captain Jason Holder overcame an indifferent early spell to snare three, but it was Andre Russell’s peppering of the Pakistan armpits that first applied the flame to gunpowder. 

Young fast bowler Oshane Thomas took four wickets during a devastating World Cup debut

Veteran batsman Chris Gayle led the run chase with a 50 from 34 ball for West Indies

Veteran batsman Chris Gayle led the run chase with a 50 from 34 ball for West Indies

The West Indies knocked off the trifling total with elan, Chris Gayle smiting three sixes on the way to silencing the partisan crowd of local Asians inside 14 overs. 

Those supporters had come here with their horns blaring and their green flags of home in hand but barely got the chance to wave the crescent and star in celebration. One-sided barely covers the seven-wicket margin.

Pakistan have now lost 11 ODIs in succession, a statistic that England will aim to extend when they meet here on Monday. Jofra Archer, our new destroyer, must be licking his lips at the vulnerabilites on show, briefly, yesterday.

Gayle top scored with 50, his first six taking his World Cup haul to 38 and ahead of AB de Villiers’ in the record books. 

He hurt his back rocking back to cut a majestic four and thereafter moved more like an articulated lorry than usual. This tournament is his last hurrah, aged 39, and it was a fine cameo he treated us to at the start of his team’s quest over the next six weeks.

Any hope for Pakistan? Mohammad Amir bowled beautifully. But it was too late for that.

The 39-year-old appeared to be hampered by a back injury sustained during the match

The 39-year-old appeared to be hampered by a back injury sustained during the match

West Indies celebrate the wicket of Imad Wasim for a score of just one off Jason Holder

West Indies celebrate the wicket of Imad Wasim for a score of just one off Jason Holder

Wahab Riaz of Pakistan is bowled and becomes another victim of man-of-the-match Thomas

Wahab Riaz of Pakistan is bowled and becomes another victim of man-of-the-match Thomas

Blink and you missed another of the Pakistan batsmen walking back to the pavilion with his bat under his arm and tail between his legs.

Yes, the West Indies bowled mightily well, roughening up Pakistan with some short pitched grenades, but it was a miserable performance from the men under fire. They allowed themselves to be discombobulated.

The crowd here were mostly supporting Pakistan and they had brought their national flags with them to wave in jubilation. 

But there was little of that. One six from Fakhar Zaman, middled as it flew to the square-leg boundary, was as good as it got really. A couple of late sixes from Wahab Riaz – before his stumps went splat to end the torture – hardly counted.

Sheldon Cottrell took the vital first wicket of Imam-ul-Haq to begin the demolition job

Sheldon Cottrell took the vital first wicket of Imam-ul-Haq to begin the demolition job

Andre Russell took two wickets from Pakistan's top order in during the first innings

Andre Russell took two wickets from Pakistan’s top order in during the first innings

Opener Fakar Zaman was dismissed for 22 runs by Russell - Pakistan's joint highest score

Opener Fakar Zaman was dismissed for 22 runs by Russell – Pakistan’s joint highest score

SCORECARD 

 PAKISTAN

Imam c S Hope b Cottrell 2

Fakhar b Russell 22

Babar c S Hope b Thomas 22

Haris c S Hope b Russell 8

Sarfaraz c S Hope b Holder 8

Hafeez c Cottrell b Thomas 16

Wasim c Gayle b Holder 1

Shadab lbw b Thomas 0

Hassan c Cottrell b Holder 1

Wahab b Thomas 18

Amir not out 3

Extras 2nb 2w 0b 0lb 4

Total: 105 all out  

 WEST INDIES

Gayle c Shadab b Amir 50 

S Hope c Hafeez b Amir 11

Bravo c Babar b Amir 0

Pooran not out 34

Hetmyer not out 7

Extras 0nb 3w 0b 3lb 6

Total: 108-3 

The partisan crowd booed short balls and, yes, cheered wildly whatever they could, but the excitement for them was desperately short-lived.

They were especially irked by the brilliance of Andre Russell’s lethal early spell. 

He put the ball time and again at arm pit and shoulder height: a tricky place that did not count towards the permitted two bouncers, which only count between shoulder and top-of-the-head height.

Russell’s blistering spell of three overs – and two wickets in 12 balls – had Pakistan reeling. Fakhar and Babar Azam, both with 22, top scored.

The West Indies were many people’s outside bets for the Cup itself, but more for the dynamism of their batting than the power of their bowling. 

And then this lethal showing under a cloudy Nottingham sky after they inserted Pakistan.

Credit to all the West Indies bowlers. The raw Oshane Thomas took four, with Sheldon Cottrell one – the first, when Imam-ul-Haq went for two. 

It was then 17-1 and little could we suspect the Pakistan innings would be over literally before lunch was prepared. 

Haris Sohail could only register eight runs before being caught by Shai Hope off Russell

Haris Sohail could only register eight runs before being caught by Shai Hope off Russell

West Indies captain Jason Holder delivered an off-colour first spell but then took three wickets

West Indies captain Jason Holder delivered an off-colour first spell but then took three wickets

Mohammad Amir took all three West Indies wickets during the heavy defeat at Trent Bridge

Mohammad Amir took all three West Indies wickets during the heavy defeat at Trent Bridge

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