Nawaz's three-wicket over leads Pakistan to a 14-run win over West Indies

LAUDERHILL, Fla. (AP) — Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets in an over to propel Pakistan to a 14-run win over West Indies in the series-opening Twenty20 cricket international Thursday in Florida.

Pakistan was sent in to bat and posted 178 for six, led by Saim Ayub's 57 from 38 deliveries.

Debate about that being above or below a par target at this venue was partially answered when West Indies openers Johnson Charles and 18-year-old Jewel Andrew, making his T20 international debut, scored at just over six an over to the halfway point in reply.

After conceding 20 runs in his first three overs, left-arm spinner Nawaz dramatically shifted the contest.

He started the 12th over with a breakthrough to dismiss Andrew for 35 and end a 72-run opening stand, and he added the wickets of Charles (35) and Gudakesh Motie (0) on the fourth and fifth balls as the West Indies slumped to 75-3.

Skipper Shai Hope (2) scooped a full delivery from Ayub into the deep in the next over as West Indies lost four wickets for five runs.

Ayub, who was voted player of the match for his half-century and bowling return of 2-20, said the pitch was challenging to play on so it was important to building partnerships and not panic.

Some lofty tail-end hitting from Jason Holder, who struck four sixes in his unbeaten, 12-ball 30, and Shamar Joseph, who hit 21 from 12, helped West Indies to 164-7 and made the final margin more respectable.

That lopsided contest ended any chance of the West Indies starting the series against Pakistan on a better footing after comprehensive test and T20 series losses to Australia. The Australians wrapped up a historic 8-0 sweep in the Caribbean earlier in the week.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said his team “started strong and finished even better.”

A total of closer than 200 was in range for Pakistan early when Ayub and Fakhar Zaman (28) shared an 81-run second-wicket stand to get the score up to 107 in the 12th over.

But Holder trapped Ayub lbw for 57, ending a 38-ball innings that contained five boundaries and two sixes to get the vital breakthrough. Recalled fast bowler Shamar Joseph kept the pressure on Pakistan’s batting lineup and returned 3-30 from his four overs.

The second and third T20s will be held in Lauderhill on Saturday and Sunday before an ODI series in the Caribbean.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

West Indies' Shai Hope walks off the field after his dismissal during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, third left, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of West Indies' Gudakesh Motie during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Hasan Nawaz reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

West Indies' Shamar Joseph, right, chats with Shai Hope during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha plays a shot during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub bats during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz, right, celebrates with teammate after the dismissal of West Indies' Johnson Charles during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

West Indies' Shai Hope walks off the field after his dismissal during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, third left, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of West Indies' Gudakesh Motie during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Hasan Nawaz reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

West Indies' Shamar Joseph, right, chats with Shai Hope during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha plays a shot during the first Twenty20 cricket match between West Indies and Pakistan, in Lauderhill, Fla., Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's troubled economy returned to modest growth last year after two years of falling output, official figures showed, as hopes rise that government spending on bridges, rail lines and defense may help end years of stagnation.

The expansion in gross domestic product of 0.2% for 2025 was fueled by stronger consumer and government spending while exports sagged under the weight of more restrictive U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump, the German Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.

That follows shrinkage of 0.5% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2023.

“Germany’s export business faced strong headwinds owing to higher U.S. tariffs, the appreciation of the euro and increased competition from China,” statistical office head Ruth Brand said in a statement accompanying the statistical release.

Expectations have risen for Germany to finally see stronger growth this year as the government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz implements plans to increase spending on infrastructure to make up for years of underinvestment. Meanwhile defense spending is rising due to a perceived higher level of threat from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Germany has endured a period of extended stagnation following the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher energy costs following the war in Ukraine and increasing competition from China in key German specialties such as autos and industrial machinery have held back an economy that is heavily focused on exports. Then came Trump's imposition of higher tariffs, or import taxes, on goods from the European Union. The slow growth has also exposed long-term structural issues such as excessive bureaucracy and lack of skilled labor. A stronger euro has also made exports less competitive on price.

A group of leading economists has predicted 0.9% growth for this year but said that forecast could be at risk if the increase in government spending is unleashed more slowly than expected.

The German economy grew 0.2% in the last three months of 2025, according to available preliminary data.

FILE - Containers are piled up in the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, on Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)