5th ODI West Indies v Pakistan: Misbah steers Pakistan to 3-1 series win

Misbah-ul-Haq produced a crucial captain's innings to steer Pakistan to a four-wicket win over West Indies in the fifth one-day international in St. Lucia on Wednesday and secure the series 3-1

Misbah, adjudged man-of-the-match, scored 63 as the tourists reach the winning target with one ball to spare at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet.

Pakistan finished on 243 for six wickets after chasing down West Indies score of 242 for seven, unleashing joyous celebrations in the sparsely attended stadium.

"It is very satisfying after losses in the Champions Trophy and after losing the series in South Africa earlier this year; this was a much needed win for us," Misbah told the post-match presentation, where he was also named man of the series.

A dramatic ending was almost thwarted by a sudden rain storm when Pakistan were 17 runs shy with 14 balls remaining, and had just lost Umar Akmal, needlessly out after a blistering 37 off 28 balls.

But after a brief delay, during which the players went off and the covers came on, Misbah returned with Shahid Afridi to finish off the job.

The outcome might have much different had Misbah been given out when West Indies reviewed a contentious decision by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel to turn down a catch claimed off Misbah's gloves when the score was 190-4.

Television replays were deemed inconclusive but the aggrieved West Indies reacted angrily with bowler Tino Best facing a possible fine over his conduct after a heated exchange with the umpire.

While Misbah was the catalyst for the win, opener Ahmed Shehzad laid the foundation with the game's top score of 64.

Earlier, West Indies needed another late cameo of lusty blows to unshackle a stranglehold placed on them by Pakistan's bowlers, of whom Junaid Khan was the best.

Captain Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy smashed their way to a 53-run partnership in just five overs near the end of the home team's innings to take West Indies to a respectable 242. Bravo top scored for them with 48.

Opener Johnson Charles led a charmed existence before finally falling for 43 while Marlon Samuels scored 45 but both were laboured at times as they found the bowlers difficult to get away.

The two countries now play two Twenty20 internationals at Kingstown, capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines, on Saturday and Sunday.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Ajmal scrambled for a single after playing two dot balls as Pakistan won the fifth one-day international against West Indies by five wickets with a ball to spare and clinch the series 3-1 on Wednesday.

Pakistan were spurred by half centuries from Ahmed Shehzad (64) and skipper Misbah ul Haq (63) as they made 243-6 in 49.5 overs.

Chasing a target of 243, Pakistan won with a ball to spare after some tense moments following the dismissal of Misbah while Afridi was stranded at the other end.

Their victory charge was held up by a shower which caused a stoppage with Pakistan needing 17 off 14 balls.

Afridi walked in and smashed a six and a boundary off consecutive balls from Dwayne Bravo.

Misbah was out with the scores tied and one needed from four balls.

Holder bowled a couple of dot ball to Ajmal before he managed to steal a single.

Ajmal is on strike and has played two dot ball off Holder with one needed to win.

Misbah smashes a full toss from Holder straight to Bravo. Pakistan need 1 from four balls now. Pak 242-6.

Misbah-ul-Haq c DJ Bravo b Holder 63 (93b 5x4 1x6)

Afridi is on strike with Pakistan needing just two off the last over to be bowled by Holder. Pak 241-5 in 49 overs.

Afridi cracks a boundary off the next ball from Bravo as Pakistan need just three from seven balls.

Afridi smashes a six over midwicket off Bravo to close the gap to seven from eight balls.

Pakistan are 228-5 in 48 overs resuming after a short rain break and need 15 from 12 balls with Afridi on strike.

Pakistan are still ahead by five runs under the Duckworth & Lewis calculation.

The overs start reducing only after 45 minutes have been lost.

Akmal is out holing Best to Roach even as the rain becomes heavier causing the covers the come one with Pakistan 226-5 in 47.4 overs.

Umar Akmal c sub (Roach) b Best 37 (28b 5x4 1x6)

Akmal smashes a six over mid off for a six and top edges the next one from Best over the keeper for a boundary.

Bravo bowls a tight over as Pakistan reach 216-4 in 47 overs needing 27 off 18 balls.

The 50 partnership for the fifth wicket between Misbaj and Akmal comes up in just 48 balls. Pak 210-4 in 46 overs.

Umar Akmal cuts Narine square of the wicket for a boundary.

Misbah completes his 29th fifty and ninth against West Indies. Pak 192-4 in 43 overs.

Misbah survives a confident appeal for a caught behind off Best with West Indies being unsuccessful with the decision review.

Holder goes for 17 in the 41st over.

Akmal gets three consecutive boundaries off Holder through mid-on, long leg and third man.

Umar Akmal lofts Holder to mid on for his first boundary.

Best bowls a maiden in the final Powerplay over with Pakistan getting just 18 runs. Pak 163-4 in 40 overs.

Best strikes as Sohail goes edging a wide ball to Simmons. Pak 160-4.

Haris Sohail c Simmons b Best 17 (22b 2x4 0x6)

Dwayne Bravo goes for 14 as Misbah steps up the ante by smashing a six over midwicket while Sohail also gets a bondary with a straight drive. Pak 143-3 in 34 overs.

Dwayne Bravo takes a superb catch to dismiss Shehzad. Pak 123-3.

Ahmed Shehzad c Dwayne Bravo b Best 64 (100b 8x4 0x6)

Misbah smashes another boundary this time off Best. Pak 123-2 in 30 overs.

Misbah guides Best past slip to third man for a boundary. Pak 118-2 in 29 overs.

Shehzad cracks consecutive boundaries off Best through third man and mid-on.

Misbah hits his first boundary with a booming drive to long-on. Pak 101-2 in 26 overs.

Shehzad hits a boundary off Sammy to reach his half century. Pak 95-2 in 25 overs.

Sammy completes his spell with of 10-0-35-1.

Shehzad sweeps Samuels to the fine leg fence. Pak 82-2 in 22 overs.

Sammy strikes as Hafeez gets a top edge which is pouched by stand-in keeper Simmons. Pak 64-2.

Mohammad Hafeez c Simmons b Sammy 11 (22b 1x4 0x6)

Hafeez hits his first boundary cutting Sammy with a powerful shot to third man. Pak 60-1 in 15 overs.

Jamshed is run out by a direct hit from Gayle after being sent back by Shehzad. Pak 51-1.

Nasir Jamshed run out 23 (25b 2x4 1x6)

Jamshed gets anouther boundary off Holder. Pak 45-0 in 9 overs.

Jamshed pulls Sammy to square leg for a boundary as Pakistan get their best start of the series. Pak 40-0 in 8 overs.

Jamshed hits the first six of the innings top edging a bouncer from Holder over fine leg. Pak 25-0 in 5 overs.

Best is providing easy pickings with Shehzad feasting on another full pitched delivery to the fence. Pak 18-0 in 4 overs.

Shehzad smashes consecutive boundaries hooking short pitched deliveries from Best to square leg.

WEST INDIES INNINGS

A late assault by Dwayne Bravo sparked life into a lethargic West Indies effort as the home team totalled 242 for seven batting first against Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international at the Beausejour Stadium on Wednesday.

Under pressure to deliver for a team seeking victory to square the series, the captain smashed 48 off just 27 deliveries with five fours and three sixes, dominating a 53-run seventh-wicket partnership with former skipper Darren Sammy, who belted his way to an unbeaten 29 off 18 balls.

Pakistan, assured of maintaining their unbeaten run in ODI series in the Caribbean since 1988, were in control through most of the innings via tight, disciplined bowling, pacers Junaid Khan (3 for 48) and Mohammad Irfan (2 for 34) leading the effort until Bravo cut loose.

Such was the transformation that after crawling to 159 for five in the 42nd over, 83 runs were hammered off the remaining 58 balls to at least give the West Indies a fighting chance of restricting the Pakistani batsmen in conditions that appear tailor-made for batting on a hot, steamy afternoon.

Marlon Samuels (45) and Johnson Charles (43) held the home side's innings together, although at a considerably slower pace, before the arrival of the cavalier captain.

Both fought to dominate the admirable Pakistan bowling effort and perished when seeking to press on the accelerator.

In stark contrast, the usually destructive Chris Gayle was again a mere shadow of his plundering best, labouring to 21 off 34 balls batting for the second consecutive match in the unusual position of number in the order.

His replacement at the top, Devon Smith, failed yet again, falling victim to an aggressive Junaid, who followed up with the wicket of Darren Bravo to have the West Indies faltering in the early exchanges.

Saeed Ajmal removed Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons in the final rush for runs and, unusually for the wily spinner, conceded 57 runs off his 10 overs.

Bravo's blistering knock comes to an end with Sohail taking a catch off Ajmal. wI 223-7.

Dwayne Bravo c Haris Sohail b Saeed Ajmal 48 (27b 5x4 3x6)

Bravo clubs another six off Ajmal to bring up the 50 partnership for the sixth wicket.

Bravo finishes a big over by smashing Junaid over extra cover for a boundary. WI 214-6 in 48 overs.

Bravo hammers Junaid Khan for a six with Afridi failing to keep his balance after catching it.

Bravo clubs a full toss from Asad Ali to square leg and hoists him for a six. WI 193-6 in 46 overs.

Bravo whacks a doosra from Ajmal to the midwicket fence. WI 178-6 in 45 overs.

Hafeez takes a well judged catch on the boundary off a powerful strike from Simmons. WI 170-6.

Lendl Simmons c Hafeez b Saeed Ajmal 25 (26b 1x4 2x6)

Dwayne Bravo gets his first boundary driving Asad Ali to point.

Irfan claims his second wicket as a struggling Samuels holes out to Afridi in the deep. WI 159-5.

Marlon Samuels c Shahid Afridi b Mohammad Irfan 45 (89b 2x4 1x6)

Simmons dances down the track and smashes Ajmal over long-on for another six. WI 158-4 in 41 overs.

Ajmal bowls a maiden to Samuels within the Powerplay over. WI 150-4 in 39 overs.

Simmons smashes a six off Ajmal as Windies motor on despite the loss of Gayle. WI 144-4 in 37 overs.

Simmons punches Ajmal through point for a boundary.

Junaid Khan strikes with the second ball after the drinks interval as Gayle top edges a bouncer with Umar Akmal taking a super catch behind. WI 131-4.

Chris Gayle c Umar Akmal b Junaid Khan 21 (34b 2x4 1x6)

Samuels finishes a big over for West Indies by smashing a boundary. WI 129-3 in 35 overs.

Gayle swings Hafeez for a boundary to square leg and then hoists him for a massive six over long on.

Gayle hits his first boundary punching Asad Ali through the covers. WI 107-3 in 28 overs.

Irfan strikes as Charles miscues a pull to Sohail. WI 98-3.

Jonathan Charles c Haris Sohail b Mohammad Irfan 43 (71b 4x4 0x6)

Samuels blasts a six to long-off and boundary to long-on off Afridi. WI 98-2 in 25 overs.

Charles edges Asad Ali for a boundary to third man. WI 74-2 in 20 overs.

Charles is on song slamming Afridi over extra cover. WI 66-2 in 19 overs.

Charles slams Asad Ali to the mid on fence. WI 58-2 in 18 overs.

Afridi comes into the attack with WI 51-2 in 16 overs.

Junaid Khan strikes again as Darren Bravo is caught behind by Umar Akmal with Pakistan successfully overturning the not out verdict following a decision review. WI 44-2.

Darren Bravo c Umar Akmal b Junaid Khan 9 (21b 1x4 0x6)

Junaid Khan strikes as Smith fails again edging to Hafeez at second slip. WI 26-1.

Devon Smith c Mohammad Hafeez b Junaid Khan 7 (14b 0x4 1x6)

Erratic second over from Irfan going for 14 runs including five wides and a boundary. WI 15-0 in 4 overs.

Charles hits the first boundary of the match off via an inside edge from Irfan.

Hafeez concedes one run in his second over.

Irfan also bowls a maiden to Smith.

Hafeez opens the attack for Pakistan and bowls a maiden to Charles.

Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the fifth one-day international against West Indies on Wednesday as they eye a series win.

Pakistan have made on change bringing in Asad Ali for Wahab Riaz.

Tino Best has replaced Kemar Roach for West Indies who have not won bilateral ODI series against Pakistan since 1991.

PLAYING XI

West Indies - Devon Smith, Johnson Charles, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Tino Best
   
Pakistan - Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Asad Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

PREVIEW

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo will be under the microscope when the final one-day international of the five-match series against Pakistan is played at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on Wednesday.

Following a six-wicket win in the rain-affected fourth match at the same venue on Sunday, the tourists enjoy an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series and the hosts are under increasing pressure to get the win that will square the rubber and at least reassure Caribbean fans that the regional team is steadily improving in the countdown to the next World Cup.

The third fixture, also played at Beausejour, finished in a tie.

Despite proving to be extremely expensive in the final overs of their opponents' innings so far in the series, Bravo has continued to opt for his medium-pacers at the death, often resulting in a significant acceleration of the Pakistani scoring.

He finally admitted in the aftermath of defeat on Sunday that those tactics will have to be revisited. Yet it remains to be seen what he will choose to do on the day given the reluctance to utilise Darren Sammy when the late charge is on, despite the fact that the former ODI captain has been consistently one of the most economical bowlers with his medium-pacers.

Pakistan have no such concerns, and after ensuring that their unbeaten run in head-to-head series in the West Indies since the 1988 tour will be extended, are in no mood to relax.

"We're looking forward to winning again. We gained a lot from that win (on Sunday) and confidence will be high for this final game," said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq in anticipating the final challenge.

He was full of praise for left-arm seamer Junaid Khan. Together with Mohammad Irfan, they have been the most effective spearheads for Pakistan. However their third left-armer, Wahab Riaz, has found the going tough in the last two matches and may be forced to make way for Asad Ali, who opened the bowling in the first two matches in Guyana.

Following Wednesday's series finale, the teams travel to St Vincent for back-to-back T20 Internationals at the weekend, which will conclude Pakistan's short tour.

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