Pakistan chased down 306 in the first ODI, at the Multan Cricket Stadium, to go 1-0 up in the three-match series against West Indies. After they lost Fakhar Zaman early, both Imam-ul-Haq (65 in 71 balls) and Babar Azam (103 in 107) continued with their incredible form, adding 103 for the second wicket. Babar continued even after Imam got out, top edging a reverse sweep off Akeal Hosein. He became the quickest to reach 1,000 runs as ODI captain, taking only 13 innings to get there – four fewer than Virat Kohli's previous world record.
Mohammad Rizwan (59 in 61 balls) helped Babar add 108 for the third wicket, but once both fell, Pakistan needed 50 in 32 balls. West Indies did well to take it to 42 in 22 before Khushdil Shah (41 not out in 23) hit Romario Shepherd for three consecutive sixes. Alzarri Joseph (2-55) got Shadab Khan in the next over and stretched the equation to 21 from 12, but Khushdil changed the course again with a four and a six in Shepherd's next over. With six to score off five balls, Mohammad Nawaz lofted Jayden Seales for six over mid wicket to seal the match.
Earlier, Shai Hope (127 in 134 balls) and Shamarh Brooks (70 in 83) added 154 for the second wicket to put West Indies in a comfortable position. Nicholas Pooran (21 in 16), Rovman Powell (32 in 23), and Shepherd (25 in 18) all threw their bat around, but none of them lasted long enough to take West Indies to a slightly more comfortable score of 320.
Brief scores
West Indies 305/8 in 50 overs (Shai Hope 127; Haris Rauf 4-77) lost to Pakistan 306/5 in 49.2 overs (Babar Azam 103; Alzarri Joseph 2-55) by 5 wickets with 4 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Khushdil Shah.