West Indies beat Pakistan by seven wickets at Trent Bridge
Jason Holder and his bowlers troubled the Pakistan batsmen with their pace
It was like turning back time in Nottingham on Friday at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, as the modern-day West Indies evoked memories of their fearsome four-pronged pace attack of the 1980s by skittling out Pakistan for just 105 in only 21.4 overs.
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side had little to offer with the bat as Oshane Thomas, Jason Holder, Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell and Carlos Brathwaite performed a more than passable impersonation of yesteryear greats Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Colin Croft.
Perhaps captain Holder offered a clue as to what he had in store for the beleaguered Pakistanis when he said after winning the toss and electing to bowl first, “Everybody is playing with a smile on their face and that’s how we play our best cricket”.
Well, his team quickly turned into the smiling assassins as they charged around the outfield, high-fiving in wild celebration at the quickfire clatter of wickets.
Fakhar Zaman provided some early fireworks for Pakistan by clipping Holder for six over square leg and smashing Cottrell for four over extra cover.
