A Twenty20 loss against the hosts is now a distant memory as two successive, thumping One-Day International (ODI) wins have placed Pakistan just another victory away from a series-win in the West Indies.
Pakistan, for the second time in three days, rode on a decent performance by their bowlers who dismissed the hosts for a paltry 220 on a slow pitch. In reply, opener Ahmed Shehzad struck his second ODI century to anchor the tourists to a confident seven-wicket win.
Putting together a
series of wins
Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies, a sequence spread over the last four years.
“We made a plan at our team meeting and our guys stuck to it and that was good,” said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. “Shehzad is a very talented guy and he showed that he is capable of performing. He took his time, but chasing a small total, he could afford to do that and we won the game.
“I think our bowlers are doing a great job, and the fielding has improved because it is a very important area for us.
“Our batting has shown responsibility and we hope to maintain this discipline right throughout the series.”
Pakistan dominate
through spin
The visitors’ spin bowling trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Afridi dominated the home side on another docile pitch.
Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi shared six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs between them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to getting on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.
“We didn’t make use of the key moments in the match,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. “We could have tried to squeeze their batsmen more and when we batted we got a good start, but did not capitalise on it.
“The spinners continue to bog us down, and we could have got a lot more on the board. It seems that whatever approach we have taken, we seem only able to get the same kind of total on the board. We have a lot more work to do.”
Shehzad sticking to basics
The opener shared three successive half-century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Misbahul Haq that put Pakistan firmly on course for their victory.
He glanced a delivery in the 44th over from Dwayne Bravo to deep fine leg for a single to reach his milestone from 143 balls.
“We tried to keep wickets in hand. It was not a huge total so I knew that I had to control my stroke-play and not get carried away,” said Shehzad.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2011.
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