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KINGSTON, Jamaica - The West Indies dismissed Pakistan for 187 to win by 54 runs in the opening game of the World Cup this morning.
West Indies earlier made 241-9, which many thought would not be enough, but tidy bowling from the hosts and some wild shots from Pakistan gave them an easy victory.
Dwayne Smith tormented Pakistan with both bat and ball in the Group D match at Sabina Park and was named man of the match.
The 23-year-old all-rounder smashed a quickfire 32 from 15 balls to help West Indies reach a competitive total after their innings looked to be running out of momentum following the departure of Marlon Samuels for 63.
Smith was similarly menacing with the ball, taking three key Pakistan wickets for 36 runs, including their dangerous captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for 36.
It marked a superb return to form for the West Indies after they were crushed by India by nine wickets having been skittled for 85 in their final warm-up game on Friday.
It was an impressive performance from the Caribbean side with major batting contributions from Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) and captain Brian Lara making 37. Later seamer Dwayne Bravo took three for 42.
The win gives West Indies pole position in the group ahead of their games against Zimbawbe and Ireland and two points to take into the Super Eights stage, presuming both they and Pakistan qualify.
Early loss
Despite the early loss of opener Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies took a grip on the game thanks to an impressive demonstration of strokeplay from Samuels who reached his fifty off 56 balls.
He reached his half-century with a thumping straight six off Shoaib Malik.
The hosts, who have shown a tendency towards middle-order slumps, could easily have lost their way following the dismissals of Samuels and Lara -- both victims of part-time off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez.
But Smith, who hit three fours and two sixes in his late show, helped West Indies to pile on 58 runs in the last five overs and set a challenging total for Pakistan to chase.
The West Indies pace attack inflicted early damage with Daren Powell claiming openers Imran Nazir and Hafeez and Jerome Taylor dismissed Younis Khan as Pakistan stumbled to 39 for three.
But then Inzamam and Yousuf dug in with a patient partnership, keeping their cool despite being tied down by some accurate bowling, particularly from the consistent line and length of Corey Collymore.
Smith broke the partnership having Yousuf caught behind for 37 as he edged an attempted cut shot to leave Pakistan 99 for four and then he turned the game when he trapped Inzamam leg before for 36.
With Smith's next ball, Kamran Akmal was sent on his way, caught brilliantly at point by a diving Dwayne Bravo.
Bravo then dealt with the lower order himself with the wickets of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar and Umar Gul.
With wickets running out and the run-rate rising, it needed some individual brilliance for Pakistan to turn the game around and Shoaib Malik made a lone effort with an aggressive innings of 62 from just 54 balls before he was caught at long off.
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FINAL 10 OVERS COMMENTARY:
OVER 48: Umpires change the ball for one that is whiter to help the Pakistan batsmen, though it's a bit late for that - Pakistan are all out next ball for 187, Chanderpaul catching a skyed one from Malik who made 62.
OVER 47: Lara takes an easy catch in the covers to dismiss Iftikhar for 11 - 187-8. Bravo takes a wonderful caught and bowled to dismiss Gul first ball - 187-9.
OVER 46: Collymore drifts down leg and Malik guides to fine leg for 4. Crowd quietens as the result seems out of doubt.
OVER 45: Five from the over. Pakistan can't find the boundaries they need. Required run rate an unlikely 13.4.
OVER 44: Required run rate above 11. Malik has 50 off 41 deliveries. Tidier over.
OVER 43: Malik hits another boundary - he hasn't given up hope yet. Gayle then makes an amazing one-handed stop on the boundary, but his foot touches the rope - 4 more. Loose bowling from Bravo, 12 off the over.
OVER 42: Sarwan just misses a run-out with Malik well short. Malik responds with a 6 next ball.
OVER 41: Bravo bowls Naved-ul-Hasan for 11 to leave Pakistan on 144-7, needing a run rate above 10.
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SCOREBOARD
West Indies
C. Gayle c Kamran Akmal b Umar Gul 2
S. Chanderpaul c Kamran Akmal b Rao Iftikhar 19
R. Sarwan c Younis Khan b Rao Iftikhar 49
M. Samuels c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Hafeez 63
B. Lara c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Hafeez 37
D. Bravo c Naved-ul-Hasan b Rao Iftikhar 16
D. Ramdin st Kamran Akmal b Danish Kaneria 1
D. Smith c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Umar Gul 32
J. Taylor run out 2
D. Powell not out 1
C. Collymore not out 8
Extras (lb-2 nb-3 w-6) 11
Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 241
Fall of wickets 1-7 2-64 3-77 4-168 5-181 6-183 7-223 8-228
9-232
Bowling: Umar Gul 9-1-38-2 (1nb, 2w), Naved-ul-Hasan
9-1-49-0 (2nb), Rao Iftikhar Anjum 10-3-44-3, Danish Kaneria
9-2-45-1 (3w), Mohammad Hafeez 9-0-39-2, Shoaib Malik 4-0-24-0
6.0
Pakistan
Imran Nazir c Ramdin b Powell 6
Mohammad Hafeez c Lara b Powell 11
Younis Khan c Ramdin b Taylor 9
Mohammad Yousuf c Ramdin b Smith 37
Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Smith 36
Shoaib Malik c Chanderpaul b Collymore 62
Kamran Akmal c Bravo b Smith 0
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan b Bravo 11
Rao Iftikhar Anjum c Lara b Bravo 11
Umar Gul c & b Bravo 0
Danish Kaneria not out 0
Extras (lb-2 w-2) 4
Total (all out, 47.2 overs) 187
Fall of wickets 1-6 2-17 3-39 4-99 5-116 6-116 7-144 8-187
9-187, 10-187
Bowling: Powell 10-1-42-2, Taylor 10-1-38-1, Collymore 8.2-3-27-1
(1w), Smith 10-0-36-3, Bravo 9-0-42-3 (1w)
Result: West Indies win by 54 runs
Man-of-the-match: Dwayne Smith
- REUTERS, NZHERALD STAFF
