Thu, 28 Apr 2011 - Pakistan vs West Indies, Pakistan Tour of West Indies 2011, 3rd ODI - Bulletin

Misbah guides Pakistan to series victory

Pakistan overcame two spells of batting collapses to chase down under par 172 successfully with three wickets in hand giving them unassailable lead of 3-0 in the five match ODI series against West Indies. Nervous chase was guided by calm head Misbah-ul Haq, yet to be dismissed in the series, keeping his composure when wickets were falling one after another.

Poor performance of their batsmen notwithstanding, home team had a good outing with the ball nearly stunning Pakistan. The two spells which boosted West Indies came at the beginning and dying stages of Pakistan run chase. There was nothing in the middle and had wickets been taken during the period situation might have been different.

The two pieces of spirited performance with the ball came via fast bowler Ravi Rampaul having Pakistan on the floor removing their top three with score at 12 only and leg spinner Devendra Bishoo who bamboozled Pakistan lower order to claim three wickets for 21 runs to give his team hope of a unlikely win.In between those bursts, came two productive partnerships rounded off with another vital one in the end to see Pakistan across the line. All three were overseen by Misbah with Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam and Wahab Riaz making some quick runs.

Reeling at 12 for 3, Misbah and Umar were involved in the partnership of crucial 37 runs with latter scoring 30 of those coming off 27 balls and including five boundaries. Umar’s entertaining vigil at the crease was ended by a snorter of a delivery from Rampaul to brush batsman’s gloves on way to the wicketkeeper.

Pakistan needed someone to stay with Misbah and it was Hammad playing his first innings taking the role as duo kept the score board ticking over and made sure there were no hiccups.The pair put on 77 runs to give Pakistan a commanding position but Bishoo had other ideas. He trapped Hammad LBW for a well made 36, had Shahid Afridi caught of a senseless slog and Mohammad Salman clean bowled off a beautiful flipper to bring some drama into the proceeding and perhaps some hope for a Windies win.

Misbah wasn’t deterred by all this as he guided Wahab Riaz to put together important 23 runs for the eighth wicket to see Pakistan through. He remained not out on 62 that came off 109 and made sure that he was there till the end.

Pakistan’s victory path was made easier courtesy some good bowling and lack of application from the Windies’ batsmen. The home team had an all too familiar batting collapse receding from a comfortable position to 171 all out.

At one stage, they were 131 for 3 in the thirty-third over, losing seven wickets for just 40 runs. Pakistan bowlers combined well to pose some problems on a bouncy strip at Barbados. Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal once again troubled the Windies batsmen and grabbed three wickets.Another Pakistan man instrumental in the West Indies collapse was left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz who in his come-back spell claimed three victims to put the home team on the mat.

West Indies lower order again lacked the grit and determination throwing their wickets away at crucial junctures. Their timid display with the bat undid the good work by inform Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo both of whom showed character and resistance to put West Indies on track.

Opener Devon Smith was again done by off-spin of Mohammad Hafeez going nowhere to a delivery that came from an round the wicket angle to trap the left hander plumb infront of wickets. The young batting duo of Simmons and Bravo steadied the innings with some strokes and occasional aggressive strokes.

Simmons best shot during his 64-ball 51 including four boundaries and two sixes came when he used his feet to left arm pacer Junaid Khan to deposit him straight over the head into stands while Bravo junior was more elegant caressing the ball into gaps making batting look easy.

With Windies going nicely at 92 for one, Ajmal enticed Simmons to a false shot and had him caught in the follow through and Bravo followed him after 16 runs trapped leg before wickets by Hafeez to peg home team back.

The following series of events were very familiar to the fans with batsmen crumbling to Ajmal and Wahab without putting their mind into the batting.Ajmal had another field day taking three wickets for 29 while Riaz had same number wickets conceding 38 runs. Hafez also bowled well to add two to his wickets tally.