Nicholas Pooran's valiant 33-ball unbeaten 62, his highest score in T20Is, went in vain as West Indies suffered a seven-run defeat against Pakistan in the second T20I of the four-match series. Apart from Pooran, no West Indies batter had a strike rate over 107 after coming to chase 158 on a sluggish Guyana pitch.
Earlier, Babar Azam dropped himself to No. 3 to promote Sharjeel Khan to the top. The plan did not work as Jason Holder (4-26) got Sharjeel (20) inside the Powerplay overs to give West Indies the first breakthrough.
Babar (51 off 40) and Mohammad Rizwan (46 off 36) put on a 67-run stand for the second wicket to lay the platform. Pakistan were 113/1 before Rizwan was run out against the run of play, courtesy a sharp bit of fielding by Evin Lewis.
The fortunes turned in no time after a short rain break. In the 17th over, Holder returned to dismiss Babar just when the latter looked to shift the gear. Dwayne Bravo (2-24) then joined Holder to produce an excellent finish for West Indies. They took six wickets for 23 in the final four overs to restrict Pakistan to 157/8.
West Indies spinners Akeal Hosein (0-30) and Hayden Walsh Jr (0-25) went wicketless, while Romario Shepherd conceded 36 in his three overs for no success.
Coming to bowl the second over, Mohammad Hafeez first bowled Andre Fletcher for nought, and later finished with figures of a lifetime. He mostly bowled accurate off-breaks, where he conceded 1.50 run an over, including a maiden.
Hasan Ali (1-32) cleaned up Chris Gayle on the last ball of the Powerplay to leave West Indies reeling at 31/2. Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer (17) then steadied the ship, but the former had to retire hurt due to cramp after scoring a well-set 33-ball 36.
West Indies needed 74 from the final five overs. Pooran began to dominate Pakistani bowlers and smacked four fours and six sixes in his 33-ball stay, but did not get the required support from Kieron Pollard (13 off 14), which eventually cost them at the end.
The two sides will again go head to head for the third match on 1 August, at the same venue.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 157/8 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 51; Jason Holder 4-26) beat West Indies 150/4 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 62*; Mohammad Hafeez 1-6) by 7 runs. Player of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez.