Holder heroics end West Indies’ losing streak, keep T20I series alive

By Leighton Levy (Sportsmax)-Jason Holder turned in a sensational all-round performance on Saturday night, taking 4 for 19 and striking a boundary off the final ball to seal a two-wicket win for the West Indies over Pakistan in the second T20 International at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, Florida. The thrilling win snaps a six-match losing streak for the Caribbean side and levels the three-match series at 1-1 heading into Sunday’s decider.

In a game that saw momentum swing wildly, Holder stood tallest, impacting every phase. He opened the bowling, removed both Pakistan openers in the powerplay, and later returned to halt a dangerous fifth-wicket partnership between Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz that had dragged Pakistan to a fighting total. Holder also took two sharp catches and capped off the night with a clutch finish, smashing a fine-leg boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi with three needed from the final ball.

West Indies had entered the contest with just two wins in their last 19 completed T20Is and fresh off a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia. Their most recent loss came in the opening match of the series against Pakistan, but this time, they managed to hold their nerve thanks largely to Holder’s brilliance.

Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan were limited to 133 for 9 as Holder wreaked havoc with the ball. He dismissed Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan early, then came back to remove the well-set Hasan Nawaz for 40 and Mohammad Nawaz late in the innings. Hasan had earlier clobbered Romario Shepherd for three consecutive sixes in the 15th over, raising hopes of a total above 150, but Pakistan managed just 23 runs in the final five overs as West Indies closed in.

Set a modest target of 134, West Indies struggled against spin. Mohammad Nawaz tore through the top order with figures of 3 for 14, while Ayub and Sufiyan Muqeem added three more wickets between them, stifling the hosts’ momentum. Jewel Andrew and Shai Hope got starts, but both failed to accelerate, with Hope scratching his way to 21 off 30 balls.

With wickets tumbling and the asking rate rising, the burden fell on Holder once again. He found support from Gudakesh Motie, who contributed 28 crucial runs, and Romario Shepherd, but the equation boiled down to three needed off the last ball. Afridi opted for a surprise delivery at the pads instead of wide outside off, and Holder pounced, slicing the ball through fine leg and erupting in jubilation as the crowd roared.

It was a stunning finish to a match that West Indies had seemingly lost control of multiple times, but one which Holder rescued singlehandedly — with bat, ball, and in the field.

The series decider takes place on Sunday in Lauderhill, with the momentum now firmly in the West Indies’ corner thanks to their talismanic allrounder.