PAKISTAN SCRAPE PAST WEST INDIES

Pakistan edge to narrow victory

One-day international, Faisalabad: Pakistan 154-8 beat West Indies 151 by two wickets

 

 

 

Abdur Rehman enjoyed a successful debut in one-day internationals as Pakistan beat West Indies by two wickets in a low-scoring match in Faisalabad.

Slow left-armer Rehman, 26, took 2-20 in his 10 overs as an under-strength West Indies were bowled out for 151.

Just 16 balls were remaining when Pakistan hit the winning runs, with Inzamam-ul-Haq guiding the team home.

The skipper hit an unbeaten 42 despite the pressure caused by Corey Collymore (3-19) and Jerome Taylor (3-39)

Pakistan won the toss at the Iqbal Stadium after the first match in the series, in Rawalpindi, had been washed out.

Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf missed the game to be with his pregnant wife in Lahore, but West Indies had more extensive problems in the build-up.

With Ramnaresh Sarwan (broken foot) and Dwayne Bravo (personal reasons) out of the series, Shiv Chanderpaul (knee) then succumbed to a late injury, leaving Lendl Simmons to make his debut.

The 21-year-old nephew of former player Phil Simmons opened the batting but lasted just two balls when nicking a catch to Kamran Akmal off Gul.

By then, Chris Gayle had fallen to the fourth ball of the match, bowled by Naved - and from 2-2 it was always going to be difficult for West Indies to recover their composure.

They did make a partial recovery through the effforts of Runako Morton, who hit 43 off 66 balls batting at seven.

But Rehman, Umar Gul (2-19) and Naved-ul-Hasan (2-32) combined economy with penetration and West Indies were bowled out with a ball remaining of their 50-over allotment.

When Mohammad Hafeez nicked a Taylor outswinger behind on the first ball of Pakistan's chase, there was some pressure on the hosts.

The Pakistani batsmen kept chipping away at their target but when Abdul Razzaq fell for 17 to leave the hosts 118-6 in the 41st over, the match was far from over.

However Inzamam maintained his cool and Pakistan crept past the finishing line.

 

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