Pakistan win third T20 to whitewash West Indies

Abu Dhabi - After clinching the double-header in Dubai over the weekend to lock the series, Pakistan's first T20 series win in the UAE since that 2-1 triumph against George Bailey's Australia in 2012, they made it a clean sweep with an eight-wicket win in the UAE Capital.

It was but ironic that DJ Bravo's 'Champion' song kept blaring from the speakers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was probably the in-house Stadium DJ's attempt at inspiring the fallen world champions, the West Indies.
Achievement oriented: Pakistan eye clean sweep
Thoughts probably went back to April 3 in the Eastern Indian city of Kolkata when the West Indies did a double with their men's and women's teams capping a memorable night.
But that heady night at the majestic Eden Gardens seems a distant memory now as the West Indies are a faint shadow of that team which had not just exceeded expectations but also proved a point or two to the world.
Determination: Sharjeel determined to make amends
Instead, we can now hail the new champions - Pakistan. Perhaps, it is still early days yet to make a judgement but Sarfraz Ahmed's Pakistan are doing everything in the book that is befitting of a champion team.
Perhaps, they could rephrase the song with "Sarfraz is a champion, Wasim is a champion, Malik is a champion, Pakistan are the champions."  
Previous victory: Pakistan best West Indies again to wrap T20 series
Their new-found intensity, aggressiveness and body language, and more pertinently, their discipline have been the standout features during this three-match Twenty20 International series against the West Indies.
Accomplishment: Skipper Sarfraz praises team after crushing win
After clinching the double-header in Dubai over the weekend to lock the series, Pakistan's first T20 series win in the UAE since that 2-1 triumph against George Bailey's Australia in 2012, they made it a clean sweep with an eight-wicket win in the UAE Capital.
It was their first clean sweep in the format since the wins against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe by 2-0 margins last year.
Well played: Twenty20: Pakistan bring West Indies crashing down to earth
It was unusually packed for a week night at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and Pakistan made sure they carried on from Dubai and put on another good show.
After Sarfraz had called right and inserted the West Indies in, it was an all too familiar story. Left-arm spin it was again which caused more nightmares for the West Indians with Imad Wasim foxing them yet again.
The all-rounder disturbed the wood to send opener Johnson Charles and Chadwick Walton, who came in for Evin Lewis, on their way. That left Wasim starring at a hat-trick but Marlon Samuels denied him that privilege.
Then, a fine piece of fielding saw the West Indies three down for 17 after opener Andre Fletcher went for a non-existent single by challenging debutant Rumman Raees. Raees was quick with the throw and wicketkeeper Sarfraz whipped the bails off in a jiffy.
Wasim then castled Dwayne Bravo for his third wicket in the match for nine wickets in the entire three-match series.
Marlon Samuels, playing his 51^st T20 International, was left to repair the damage and put on 35 runs for the fifth wicket with rookie Nicholas Pooran.
After Pooran was gone, caught by Shoaib Malik off Mohammad Nawaz, the West Indies were five down for 66.
Then, Samuels, along with Kieron Pollard, who was featuring in his 50^th T20 International, added 37 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket as the West Indies finished up at below average 103. Samuels was unbeaten on 42 from 59 balls with three boundaries.
West Indies debutant Kesrick Williams, who came in place of Samuel Badree, who had a sore groin, snapped up two wickets, those of openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif.
But Babar Azam (27 n.o) and Shoaib Malik (43 n.o) saw Pakistan through with the latter finishing it off in spectacular fashion with a six off West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite.
james@khaleejtimes.com