Oshane Thomas finished with figures of 4-27 off 5.4 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Oshane Thomas carved through Pakistan’s batting line-up with a four-wicket haul to help the West Indies start their World Cup campaign with a comprehensive seven-wicket win.
Pakistan’s loss was their 11th straight in ODIs, which is their longest-ever losing streak in the format.
Choosing to bowl first, the West Indies got an early breakthrough as Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was caught behind off the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell for two runs.
Imam’s opening partner, Fakhar Zaman, mustered 22 runs before he was clean bowled by Andre Russell, who also had Haris Sohail caught behind for eight runs.
Babar Azam also made 22 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Thomas.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed failed to have an impact as he was caught behind off the bowling of West Indies skipper Jason Holder for eight runs.
Holder struck again five balls later as he removed Imad Wasim for one run.
Shadab Khan was trapped lbw off the bowling of Thomas for a golden duck, while Hasan Ali was sent packing by Holder for one run.
Hafeez, who came in at number six, only scored 16 runs before he was caught by Cottrell at fine leg off the bowling of Thomas.
Pakistan ended up being bowled out for 105 when Wahab Riaz was cleaned up by Thomas for an 11-ball 18.
Thomas was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Holder snapped up three, Russell took two and Cottrell chipped in with one.
Chasing 106 to win, the West Indies got off to a brisk start before Shai Hope was caught by Hafeez at mid-off off the bowling of Mohammad Amir for 11.
Amir struck again in his next over as Darren Bravo was caught by Azam at second slip for a duck.
Chris Gayle, who opened the batting, smashed a 34-ball 50, which included six boundaries and three sixes, before he became Amir’s third victim.
Despite losing Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer mopped up the remaining runs as the West Indies reached their target with 218 balls to spare.
Pooran finished on 34, which came off 19 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes, while Hetmyer remained undefeated on seven.
Amir was the only bowler to take any wickets for Pakistan.
Thomas was named Man of the Match.