Athanaze and Rutherford fifties in vain as Pakistan seal series with Florida win

Aug 05, 2025 Sports

Alick Athanaze sweeps on his way to a half-century. (AFP/Getty Images)

SportsMax – Half-centuries from Alick Athanaze and Sherfane Rutherford were not enough to prevent the West Indies from slipping to a 13-run defeat to Pakistan in the third and final T20 International at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday night. The result gave Pakistan a 2-1 series victory — their seventh successive T20I series win over the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Set 190 to win after Pakistan posted 189 for 4, the West Indies replied with 176 for 6, Athanaze top-scoring with 60 and Rutherford adding 51. But the late-innings push that had carried them over the line in Saturday’s second match never materialised this time, as Pakistan held their nerve at the death.

After the drama of the previous game, the finale bore more resemblance to Friday’s opener, with Pakistan just a touch too good for their hosts in both batting and bowling. The foundation of their innings came from a commanding 138-run opening stand between Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan. While the pair scored at a steady rate, West Indies managed to insert enough dot balls and singles to keep the run rate in check.

Salman Agha and the Pakistan players celebrate the T20I series win, which came after the loss in Bangladesh. (AFP/Getty Images)

With four overs remaining, Pakistan were only going at 8.5 runs per over. But after Shamar Joseph finally removed Farhan for 74, the visitors shifted gears. Hasan Nawaz, promoted into the death-overs role, struck two sixes before departing, as Pakistan found five sixes in the last four overs to add 53 runs, including 20 off the final over. Ayub finished with 66, while Roston Chase was the most economical of the West Indies bowlers with 1-31.

The West Indies’ chase started brightly, racing to 33 in the first two overs. Even as Haris Rauf began to pull them back, Athanaze and Rutherford kept the scoreboard ticking and, at 16 overs, they were five runs ahead of Pakistan’s comparative score. With 49 needed off the last four overs, the game was in the balance.

Sherfane Rutherford scored quickly. (AFP/Getty Images)

However, a hostile 17th over from Rauf and a superb follow-up from left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, who bowled Jason Holder for a two-ball duck, halted the momentum. Holder had been sent in after Roston Chase, struggling for timing, was retired out with 41 needed from 18 balls, but Muqeem’s precision ended any realistic hope.

From there, Pakistan closed the game out clinically, leaving the West Indies to reflect on missed opportunities and another home series loss to their long-time rivals.

Scores: Pakistan 189 for 4 (Farhan 74, Ayub 66, Chase 1-31) beat West Indies 176 for 6 (Athanaze 60, Rutherford 51, Muqeem 1-20) by 13 runs.

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Alick Athanaze, half-century, Pakistan, Sherfane Rutherford, West Indies

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