Champions Trophy: Pakistan’s batting woes continue
West Indies win low-scoring Group B game by two wickets.
Misbah scored 96 not out but the performance of the rest of the batsmen was disappointing and highlighted the team’s weak area ahead of a crucial clash against South Africa. PHOTO: REUTERS
It was too tall an order – even for a spirited Pakistan bowling attack – as West Indies overhauled a paltry 171-run total to win the Group B encounter at the ICC Champions Trophy by two wickets at the Oval yesterday.
A low-scoring thriller saw Pakistan being bundled out for 170 in 48 overs as Misbahul Haq fought a lone battle. The captain remained not out on 96, his highest score in One-Day Internationals (ODI), but got no support from the other end as Pakistan were left trying to defend a mediocre total.
But the bowlers did not disappoint and were upto the challenge, taking wickets at regular intervals but the total was just not enough as West Indies overhauled the target in the 41st over.
Chris Gayle made a 47-ball 39, while Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard contributed 30 apiece.
Unfortunate Misbah
Earlier, Misbah, who could have been out twice before he had scored, was stranded four short of what would have been his first ODI in 118 matches. The captain was on 67 when the ninth wicket fell, but found a willing partner in the tall Mohammad Irfan who contributed just two in a last-wicket partnership of 32 as Pakistan attempted to make a game out of the proceedings.
Kemar Roach was the star for the West Indies and took three for five from 14 deliveries with the new ball and Sunil Narine captured three for three from 10 balls in the middle of the innings with his flighted off-spin.
Pakistan were quickly reminded of their batting woes as Roach ripped through the top order after West Indies decided to field. Imran Farhat (2), Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq all fell cheaply before opener Nasir Jamshed and Misbah consolidated. However, Jamshed’s dismissal was followed by that of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal as Pakistan lost wickets like ninepins. Only a last-wicket partnership took the team past the 150-mark.
Misbah singled out the top-order’s failure as the reason behind the defeat. “The plan was to see off the new ball,” said Misbah. “But the opposite happened. We could have gone on to make 240-250, but we kept making mistakes and lost wickets.
“For me, the century doesn’t matter. Runs matter only if the team wins. But I’m pleased with the way our bowlers bowled. Everybody bowled their hearts out. We need to rectify the small mistakes.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2013.