Pakistan beat West Indies by a close margin of seven runs in the second T20I of the four-match T20I series to take a 1-0 lead. Opting to bowl first, West Indies failed to chase a target of 158 runs.

Pakistan’s bowling was led by the experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez. He picked 1/6 in his spell of four overs while opening the bowling. His performance bagged him the Player of the Match award. 

Pakistan captain Babar Azam who scored a half-century himself was thrilled with the victory but felt they were 10-15 runs short. He, however, credited the bowlers who managed to defend the below-par total. He praised Hafeez for the way he bowled, especially in the powerplay. 

"We were 10-15 runs short after the rain. But a nice victory. Bowlers bowled really very well. Credit to our bowlers, they bowled really well. We lost momentum because of back-to-back wickets.

We were looking at 170. It's an area we will try to improve in the next few games. The way he (Hafeez) bowled in the powerplay showed his experience. I'm happy as a captain with the way he bowled," Babar said at the post-match presentation.

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Hafeez said that he knew the spinners would do well on the surface, especially while defending a total. 

"I would love it, we had a score on the board, we knew it would be tough to score against spinners. We bowled well, myself and Shadab and then the pacers executed the yorkers well,” he said after receiving the Player of the Match award. 

"Being here many times (having played CPL), I knew if I do the basics well, hit the right lines, executed the skills and that worked for me. A little more comfortable when I bowl to the left-handers, but it's still important to hit the right areas," Hafeez concluded.

This was Hafeez’s most economical T20I spell, as he took the wicket of opener Andre Fletcher to peg back West Indies early in the chase. 

(Inputs: ANI)