Babar, Afridi take Pakistan to victory

Little-known 34-year-old Zulfiqar Babar made a dream Twenty20 debut as Pakistan edged out West Indies by two wickets in the first international on Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_991533” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Babar started it but Afridi’s 46 helped finish things. Reuters[/caption] Babar (3-23) chipped in with three crucial wickets in restricting West Indies to 152-7 and then with the scores levelled he clubbed a last ball flat six to see Pakistan home to 158-8. Mercurial Shahid Afridi had all but sealed the match by hitting a rapid 46 off 27 balls and Umar Amin cracked nine fours in his impressive 47 before Pakistan needed Babar’s heroics to finish off the game. Kieron Pollard top-scored with unbeaten 49 off 36 balls and added a quick-fire 53 off 24 balls with captain Darren Sammy (30). Scores: West Indies 152 for seven off 20 overs (K. Pollard 49 not out, D. Sammy 30; Zulfiqar Babar 3-23) v Pakistan 158 for eight off 20 overs (Umar Amin 47, Shahid Afridi 46; S. Gabriel 3-44)