Sarfraz Ahmed's 32-ball 46, coupled with three-wicket hauls for both Sohail Tanvir and Hasan Ali handed Pakistan a 16-run win over West Indies in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) to seal the three-match series 2-0 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (September 23)

Carlos Brathwaite, the West Indies skipper, won the toss and elected to bowl as dew was going to be a crucial factor. That, apart from the luxury of planning the chase as both teams went in with an unchanged side

Samuel Badree and Jerome Taylor curbed the hosts at the start as the legspinner dismissed Sharjeel Khan in the third over for 2. Khalid Latif then decided to unsettle West Indies' plans with some audacious strokes, and the move worked. Edged slashes went over the slips for boundaries and soon, Pakistan took control of the contest.

Gradually, Latif and Babar Azam switched roles as the latter took on the role of the aggressor. Together, they stitched the second consecutive half-century stand of the series. Azam displayed controlled aggression, before mistiming a pull off Brathwaite's first delivery to Kieron Pollard at long on.

Nonetheless, Latif marched on and in the company of Shoaib Malik, helped Pakistan to 73 for 2 in 10 overs. With a good platform set, Pakistan attempted to press the accelerator, but ended up playing some ungainly slogs. The desperation to up the scoring rate resulted in Latif finding himself short for a quick two against Evin Lewis's throw from deep square leg.

It was the fourth-wicket partnership between Sarfaraz Ahmed and Malik that helped Pakistan pace themselves beautifully in the death overs. The experienced duo resorted to manipulating the field with the odd boundary every over. On a slow wicket, that seemed the most productive way of scoring.

Together, they added 69 runs off 46 balls before Malik holed out to Pollard at deep midwicket in the final over. Sarfaraz pulled the penultimate ball for a boundary through cow corner, before taking a single off the last ball to help his side to 160 for 4. He was unbeaten on a 32-ball 46, having stroked five boundaries.

West Indies' chase got off to a bad start, yet again. Imad Wasim, the wrecker-in-chief in the first match, was the first to strike once again. Johnson Charles, in a bid to clear the boundary ropes, skied a slog high in the air which gave Umar Akmal ample time to settle under it and take the catch comfortably at long on

Tanvir, who used his variations to good effect, had Lewis and Marlon Samuels poking at deliveries outside the offstump at the last moment and getting edges to the wicketkeeper, leaving the visitors tottering at 19 for 3 in 5.3 overs.

Dwayne Bravo, the half-centurion in the first T20I, combined with Andre Fletcher to revive West Indies' innings. The duo played with caution, but attacked the balls that deserved treatment. There were no ugly hoicks or slogs. However, Mohammad Nawaz managed to breach Bravo's defense and castle the stumps.

Pollard then joined Fletcher in the middle looked and ensured West Indies got a steady platform to take the attack on the hosts in the death. They managed to do the good work, but both fell in the 15th over - a point from where they could've turned flow of the contest. While Fletcher got yorked by a slower delivery and ended up getting his stumps disturbed, Pollard top-edged a pull to the wicketkeeper.

With 78 runs needed off the last five overs, and having not the deepest batting line-ups, the target was way too challenging for the tourists on a slow track. There was dew to assist them, but there was a need for big shots. But, with Nicholas Pooran (6-ball 4) and Brathwaite (6-ball 8) failing to rescue West Indies, the target was eventually out of hand.

Even as victory was in sight, wayward bowling by Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz in the death overs left Mickey Arthur, Pakistan's coach, furious. Sunil Narine and Taylor hit some lusty blows, but it proved to be too little and too late for West Indies' liking.

With this victory, Sarfaraz has maintained his winning streak as captain of Pakistan's T20I side.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 160/4 in 20 overs (Sarfaraz Ahmed 46*, Khalid Latif 40; Samuel Badree 1-24, Carlos Brathwaite 1-24) beat West Indies 144/9 in 20 overs (Sunil Narine 30, Andre Fletcher 29*; Sohail Tanvir 3-13, Hasan Ali 3-49) by 16 runs