BRIDGETOWN:
Pakistan survived a top-order collapse to clinch the five-match series against the West Indies, prompting captain Shahid Afridi to ask for more from his batsmen.
Afridi, who played an irresponsible shot himself to be caught out as the hosts sensed an upset win, admitted his team made mistakes as they won the third One-Day International by three wickets in Bridgetown.
Batsmen need to improve, says captain
“There are still some problems, and I’m sure the management and coaches will come at us hard in the meetings,” said Afridi. “The batsmen need to spend some time in the middle. We all know we made mistakes.”
Pakistan’s batting, however, had come good in the first two ODIs where they chased down targets of 221 and 222 with considerable ease.
Misbah stablises Pakistan innings
Here, chasing 172, Pakistan lost three wickets for just 12 before vice-captain Misbahul Haq stabilised the innings with Umar Akmal and Hammad Azam to put them back on track.
Akmal was dismissed for a quickfire 30 and Misbah, yet to be dismissed in the series, then found an able partner in Azam to add a crucial 78. A poor decision by the umpire, however, signalled the end of Azam and Afridi, as he so often does, quickly reached 11 before throwing his wicket away to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.
With the tourists still needing 29 to win and four wickets remaining, Bishoo bowled wicket-keeper Mohammad Salman to put the hosts back in the game.
But Wahab Riaz, who had earlier claimed three wickets, finished the game off with Misbah ensuring there were no hiccups at the end. While Riaz was unbeaten on 17, man-of-the-match Misbah remained not out yet again with 62.
Pitch wasn’t easy, says Misbah
Misbah, who has scored 178 runs in the series so far, said the pitch was not easy to bat on.
“The pitch wasn’t easy for us as there was a bit more bounce and pace,” he said. “I thought I have to bat till the end to win. I was telling Riaz to play his normal game and when just 10 runs were required, I told him, you can now go for the big hits.”
West Indies batting fails again
Meanwhile, the hosts, who are in the rebuilding process after three senior players – Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan – were left out, had their batting to blame again. After a 91-run partnership between Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo for the second wicket, West Indies threw the game away. The hosts lost their last seven wickets for 40 runs and captain Darren Sammy was not impressed with the performance.
Sammy left disappointed after loss
“We as a batting unit, myself included, have to take more responsibility like Bishoo does with the ball,” said Sammy. “It’s about getting the formula right. We have had good starts but we haven’t capitalised on it.”
Pakistan bowlers impressed again with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claiming three for 29. Junaid Khan claimed his first international wicket and spinner Mohammad Hafeez grabbed a brace, including a wicket off his first delivery to rattle the hosts’ batting line-up.
Misbahul Haq
“The pitch wasn’t easy for us. I thought I will have to bat till the end to win. I was telling Riaz to play his normal game and when just 10 runs were required, I told him, you can now go for the big hits.”
Darren Sammy
“We as a batting unit, myself included, have to take more responsibility like Bishoo does with the ball. It’s about getting the formula right. We have had good starts but we haven’t capitalised on them.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
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