After going 1-0 down, the West Indies face a must-win challenge as they meet Pakistan in the second ODI at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
In the opening ODI, the hosts posted 280 runs, powered by half-centuries from Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, and Roston Chase. While the score looked competitive at the halfway stage, Pakistan chased it down, thanks to debutant Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Talat’s unbeaten 104-run stand.
For West Indies, wasted starts proved costly, putting added pressure on the top four—Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, and captain Shai Hope—to set a strong foundation for the middle order. Pakistan faced similar batting issues, with several players failing to convert promising starts. Saim Ayub, in particular, struggled to make an impact, and Pakistan will be hoping for his explosive batting to shine in the second ODI.
The toss was pivotal in the first ODI, as the surface played slower in the first innings but eased up under lights, aided by dew that troubled the Windies’ spinners. This second ODI will be a day game, meaning the pitch could slow down further as the match progresses, offering more assistance to spin.
The West Indies are yet to win a series in this home season, having lost in Tests and T20Is to Australia, and then falling 2-1 to Pakistan in the T20I series. Can Shai Hope’s men rally to force a series decider, or will Pakistan seal the ODI series with back-to-back wins?