Evin Lewis stars as West Indies beat Pakistan to keep Twenty20 series alive

Big-hitting Evin Lewis was the match-winner as West Indies raced to a seven-wicket success against Pakistan in Port-of-Spain and reduced their Twenty20 series arrears to 2-1.

The Windies therefore have a chance to level up in Sunday’s final match at the same venue after Lewis (91) smashed nine sixes and five fours from just 51 balls on his home ground – and victory arrived with more than five overs to spare after Pakistan had set a target of 137 for eight.

The left-handed opener was eventually caught at long-off, aiming for another maximum to seal the match off Shadab Khan, but Lendl Simmons then completed the win instead with a four off his first delivery.

Pakistan had won the toss but found themselves four for two after four balls as Samuel Badree struck twice in the first over.

Opener Kamran Akmal and Babar Azam then shared a third-wicket stand of 88 until the introduction of Marlon Samuels – for his first spell since having his action cleared again – immediately paid off.

Samuels’ first delivery was a waist-high full toss which was ruled just low enough to be legitimate and was thrashed into the hands of deep midwicket as Akmal fell two short of his 50.

Babar missed his half-century too, by seven runs, as Pakistan lost six wickets for 40 in their last eight overs – and despite the early loss of Chadwick Walton in the run chase, Lewis made light of the task by dominating half-century stands with Samuels and then debutant Jason Mohammed.