Jason Holder Inspires West Indies to Thrilling Victory in Second T20I Against Pakistan

On a warm Lauderhill evening with their backs against the wall, West Indies found their hero in veteran allrounder Jason Holder, who delivered a sensational all-round performance to help break their losing streak and keep the three-match T20I series against Pakistan alive.

Heading into the match, the West Indies were grappling with a dismal record — just two wins in their previous 19 completed T20Is. Injuries had further depleted their squad, with Rovman Powell joining Brandon King, Evin Lewis, and Shimron Hetmyer on the sidelines. The likes of Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran had recently stepped away, and the team’s morale was under immense pressure with the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon.

But in a must-win contest, it was 33-year-old Holder — playing through the toll of 12 years of international cricket and fresh from recent shoulder rehab — who rose to the occasion. The experienced allrounder claimed 4 for 19 with the ball, took two sharp catches, and capped the night off by hitting the winning boundary off the final ball to seal a nail-biting win for West Indies.

Holder’s All-Round Brilliance

Opening the bowling with Akeal Hosein, Holder struck in his very first over, dismissing the in-form Saim Ayub and equaling Dwayne Bravo as the highest wicket-taker for West Indies in T20Is. He then removed Sahibzada Farhan in his next over and continued to impact the game even when not bowling — notably running back from mid-on to complete a fine catch off Mohammad Haris.

When Pakistan began rebuilding through Salman Agha and explosive youngster Hasan Nawaz, it looked like the visitors might post an imposing total. But Holder’s reintroduction in the 16th over proved decisive. After Nawaz had just launched three sixes in the previous over, Holder trapped him with a slower ball and followed it up with another breakthrough, ending with figures of 4 for 19.

Nerve-Wracking Finish

Chasing 154, West Indies stumbled despite a solid foundation. With wickets falling and the required run rate climbing, Holder once again stepped in — this time with the bat. Partnering Romario Shepherd, he strategized to target at least four sixes in the final overs. “We fell probably one short, but we still got over the line,” Holder said after the match.

In the final over bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi, West Indies needed six off three deliveries. A misjudged single handed the strike to Shamar Joseph, but the debutant managed to return it. With four needed off the last ball, Afridi bowled a wide, easing the tension. On the re-bowled final delivery, Holder stepped across and swatted it behind square for four, triggering a passionate roar that echoed through the stump mic.

“A Burning Desire to Make a Difference”

Holder, named Player of the Match, reflected on the emotional victory: “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us. We just needed a win,” he said. “I love playing for West Indies. One of my things is to leave West Indies cricket better than they came and found it. I still think there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Acknowledging the team’s struggles with consistency, he added: “We’ve had a fair bit of criticism, which at times is warranted, but we know winning makes things better. For me, it’s just to have that burning desire to make a change, to make a difference. So I keep putting in my best effort when I get a chance with the West Indies.”

With the series now level at 1-1, the final T20I will be a decider, and the West Indies will hope to carry this momentum — and Holder’s leadership — forward.