Thu Jul 31 23:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
Pakistan defeated the West Indies in the first T20I of their tour. The West Indies, after winning the toss, failed to capitalize, struggling in all departments. A slow start with the bat put them under pressure, leading to a middle-order collapse. While late hitting from Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, and Shamar Joseph reduced the margin of defeat, Pakistan ultimately won by 14 runs. Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, credited strong batting, excellent spin bowling, and assessing conditions well for their victory. Player of the Match, Saim Ayub, acknowledged the challenging pitch and emphasized the importance of partnerships. The West Indies captain, Shai Hope, admitted to shortcomings in their fielding and batting, and highlighted a need for quicker learning and execution. This loss marks the West Indies’ ninth consecutive home defeat this season.
**News Article:**
**Pakistan Defeats West Indies in First T20I, Extends Caribbean Side’s Woes**
*Florida, USA* – Pakistan began their tour of the West Indies with a 14-run victory in the first T20I on Monday. The win offers a sigh of relief for the Pakistan side after a recent series loss to Bangladesh, while the West Indies’ struggles continue as they suffer their ninth consecutive home defeat this season.
After winning the toss, the West Indies faltered with the bat. A sluggish start saw them reach 63/0 after 10 overs, but with an increasingly poor run rate. This slow start placed immense pressure on the middle order, who collapsed under the strain, losing three wickets in a single over from Mohammad Nawaz, leading to a score of 72/0 to 110/7. Late hitting from Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder (30* off 12 balls), and Shamar Joseph (21 off 12), proved insufficient to overturn the situation.
Pakistan’s innings, led by a strong batting performance and excellent spin bowling, proved decisive. Captain Salman Ali Agha credited his team’s ability to assess the conditions and execute their plans effectively. “It was a great game, we assessed the conditions well, batted and finished well,” Agha stated. “The 11th over, we got three wickets and that was the turning point.”
Saim Ayub, who was named Player of the Match, acknowledged the challenging nature of the pitch. “It was a challenging pitch to bat, it was in our mind to build a partnership and not panic.”
West Indies captain Shai Hope lamented his team’s shortcomings. “We didn’t field well and then we didn’t bat well at all,” Hope said. He also acknowledged tactical missteps, hinting at a need to better utilize his spin bowlers.
The second T20I will be held in Florida on Saturday. The West Indies will need a significant turnaround to avoid another defeat and to turn their season around.
First Piper 