WEST INDIES EDGE LOW-SCORER
West Indies survived anxious moments and struggled to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in the opening Group B match of the Champions Trophy tournament at the Oval here yesterday.
Despite the relatively small target of 171 for victory, West Indies batsmen adopted an overly cautious approach as explosive batsmen like Chris Gayle (39 off 47 balls), Kieron Pollard (30 off 58 balls) and Marlon Samuels (30 off 57 balls) appeared uncharacteristically pedestrian against the tight Pakistani bowling.
West Indies rate was also affected by regularly falling wickets as spinner Saeed Ajmal (2 for 38), left arm pacemen Mohammed Irfan (3 for 32) and Wahab Riaz (2 for 42) kept up a tight attack to limit the opponents.
But Pakistani total proved utterly inadequate as West Indies reached home with ten overs to spare though it took their number eight and ten batters to finally take them over the line. Earlier, West Indian paceman Kemar Roach and spinner Sunil Narine destroyed Pakistan who folded up for 170 despite a fighting innings from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Roach produced a destructive opening spell which reduced Pakistan to 15 for three by the start of the seventh over before Misbah joined opener Na- sir Jamshed to stage Pakistan’s fightback.
The pair shared a fourth-wicket stand of 90 in 23 overs but world’s number one ranked ODI bowler Narine initiated a second Pakistani collapse, removing Jamshed and his successor at the crease Shoaib Malik in the same over.
Narine struck again in his next over removing Kamran Akmal as the Pakistan later order struggled around Misbah, who remained resolute and unfortunately missed his maiden ODI century by four runs as the last man Mohammad Irfan mistimed a slower ball from Ravi Rampaul to Dwayne Bravo at short mid-on. Irfan made only two but batted on for seven overs, adding 32 for the final wicket. Misbah’s career-best un- beaten 96 came off 127 balls with five boundaries and three sixes while he and Jamshed who made 50 were the only Pakistani batsmen to reach double figures. Together they made 146 while the rest of the entire line-up collectively made a pathetic 18 apart from the six extras given away by the West Indies.
Misbah survived a close chance before opening his account when umpire Steve Davis ruled him caught behind off Roach but square leg umpire Nigel Llong intervened to call for a TV review of the catch. TV umpire ruled wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin not to have had full control of the ball before it was dropped.