Pakistan cruise past Windies
Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, and Mohammad Hafeez all coasted to
half-centuries as Pakistan clinched a comfortable eight-wicket win over
West Indies in the first one-day international on Saturday.
Misbah hit the top score of an unbeaten 73 from 90 deliveries, and
Shafiq supported with 61 not out from 76 balls, after man-of-the-match
Hafeez gave the Pakistanis a flying start with 54 from 45 balls in their
successful chase of 222 for victory.
Shafiq ushered Pakistan over the finish line with 51 balls remaining
when he edged a slog at a delivery from Kemar Roach to third man for a
single.
The result gave Pakistanis a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, which
continues on Monday at the same Beausejour ground.
Wayward bowling from the visitors in the closing overs had let West
Indies finish with 221 for six from their 50 overs. Wahab Riaz was the
most successful bowler with two for 62 from 10 overs, but he and fellow
left-arm fast-medium bowler Junaid Khan let their side down.
Pakistan's spin bowling triumvirate of Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and
captain Shahid Afridi tied the West Indies batsmen down in the middle
overs in particular.
But the two Pakistani left-arm pacers did not have the same control
over the home team's batsmen and Darren Bravo hit 67 from 109 balls to
lead the way for West Indies.
"I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat
because I thought the pitch would help our spinners," said Pakistan
captain Shahid Afridi.
AFP |