Roston Chase’s unbeaten 49 carried West Indies to a five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Sunday, levelling the three-match ODI series 1-1 and boosting the Windies into ninth place in the ICC ODI rankings — the final automatic qualification spot for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Chase and Justin Greaves (26 not out) put on an unbroken 77-run partnership off 72 balls after the home team slipped to 102 for 4 in the 20th over. Chase’s calm finish followed a half-century he scored in the opening ODI on Friday, underlining his recent strong form.
Chase described the victory as crucial for both the series and the team’s broader World Cup ambitions. He said the side treats every remaining ODI as a must-win because securing full points in bilateral series will help avoid the qualifying tournament and lock in direct World Cup entry. “The win was very important. It is basically a final from here,” he said, adding that the team’s focus was to “consolidate and build a partnership” when the chase stalled.
The three-match series will be decided in the final ODI today. A West Indies win would hand them their first bilateral ODI series victory over Pakistan in 33 years. Chase framed the decider as an opportunity rather than pressure: a chance for the team to “show our mettle” and reward the fans, whose energy he praised despite not seeing capacity crowds.
Why this matters
– The win not only keeps the series alive but has immediate ranking implications: moving from tenth to ninth places the West Indies in the automatic qualifying zone for the 2027 World Cup.
– With the ICC ranking position at stake, each match now carries heightened significance for playoff-free World Cup entry.
Additional notes and context
– Chase’s recent consistency (a fifty in the first match and an undefeated 49 in the second) gives the West Indies a reliable middle-order option as they pursue series victory and crucial ranking points.
– The partnership with Greaves showed a strategic approach: consolidate after a wobble, then keep the scoring rate close enough to chase down the target without unnecessary risk.
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Short summary
Roston Chase’s unbeaten 49 and a crucial last-wicket partnership with Justin Greaves sealed a five-wicket win for West Indies over Pakistan, leveling the ODI series 1-1 and pushing the hosts into ninth in the ICC rankings — the last automatic qualification place for the 2027 World Cup. The decider is set for today, with both series pride and World Cup positioning on the line.
Hopeful angle
Momentum is with the Windies: Chase’s form and the team’s ability to recover from mid-innings trouble suggest they can press for a historic series win and solidify their path to the 2027 World Cup through direct qualification.