All for one...1-4 all

Skipper Misbah says the team stands united despite losing four wickets for one run.

CHRISTCHURCH:

West Indies condemned hapless Pakistan to a record-shattering start to an ODI before completing a 150-run World Cup rout.

West Indies, the 1975 and 1979 champions, scored 310-6 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, with 115 runs coming in a swashbuckling final 10 overs as Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell and Darren Sammy hit out.

In reply, 1992 winners Pakistan crumbled to their second straight defeat as they were all out for 160 after the top four wickets fell for just one run, the worst ever start in ODI history.

Pakistan now languish at the bottom of Pool B with two losses from two outings, and their performance against the West Indies was a step backwards from the 76-run loss to arch-rivals and defending champions India in their tournament opener.

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: REUTERS

“It’s a do-or-die situation for us and there are no ifs and buts,” said Misbah as he tried to look ahead to Pakistan’s next game against Zimbabwe, while sifting through the wreckage of Saturday’s crushing loss. “We just lost in all three departments. We couldn’t bowl well, there were a lot of dropped catches, and the batting totally flopped.”

After electing to bowl first, Pakistan took two early wickets, including that of out-of-form Chris Gayle, and were still in a relatively strong position when the West Indies were 194-4 going into the final 10 overs but could not contain the late onslaught before collapsing in dramatic fashion with the bat.

“We need to pick up ourselves up and go hard in the next game because now we’re on the edge,” said Misbah. “We have to forget the last two matches and learn from our mistakes. We can only win if we perform.”

Misbah said Pakistan’s problems against the West Indies began from the moment he won the toss and opted to use bowler-friendly conditions, with overcast skies and a hint of moisture on the pitch. “But we couldn’t take enough wickets up front,” he lamented. “We only took one or two. We could have done better than that.”

The 40-year-old was quick to add though that the team stands united and will work together to improve. “There is no blame game. As a team, as players, we need to pick ourselves up and we need to perform, that’s the only way.”

Meanwhile, West Indies skipper Jason Holder was understandably full of praise for fellow new-ball partner Jerome Taylor, who took three of the first four wickets, with Holder taking the other. “It was a wonderful performance,” he said. “We batted really well. Jerome Taylor was excellent with the new ball.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2015.

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