Nicholas Pooran believes the West Indies’ failure to score more runs from their last two overs at the crease was partly responsible for their seven-wicket loss to Pakistan in the final T20 International in Karachi on Thursday (December 16).

In what was their best showing of the three-match series, the West Indies, batting first, scored 207-3 with Pooran leading the way with 64, his best T20 score. There were also major contributions from Shamarh Brooks, who made 49 and Brandon King, 43.

Darren Bravo was unbeaten on 34 at the end.

Mohammad Wasim 2-44 and Shahnawaz Dahani, 1-23, bowled brilliantly at the end restricting the West Indies team, which was scoring at better than 10 runs an over in the first 18 overs, to only 13 runs off the last 12 balls.

Pakistan made light work of the chase, scoring 208-3 in 18.5 overs, as ‘Man of the Match’ and ‘Man of the Series’ Mohammad Rizwan made 87, captain Babar Azam 79 and Azar Ali 21 from seven balls to power his team across the line to a series sweep.

Rizwan became the first batsman to score 2,000 T20 runs in a calendar year during his 45-ball knock during which he smeared 10 fours and three sixes.

Pooran, the losing captain believed, the last two overs of the West Indies’ innings faced by Bravo and Rovman Powell, when only 13 runs were scored, proved costly.

Reflecting on the match and tour, Pooran said: “I felt that the last two overs, we definitely lost momentum. Pakistan bowled well in the back end. We were 20 runs short on this wicket.”

An outbreak of COVID-19 among the players and support staff also played a part, Pooran explained.

 “Very tough to prepare with the virus. Most of the guys did not sleep last night (Wednesday), so I am very proud of the way they have played. We went from strength to strength every game. It’s a special team, a special bunch of guys. We competed throughout the series,” he added.

Odean Smith 1-34 and Dominic Drakes, 1-37, were the best of the West Indies bowlers on what was a good batting pitch.