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29 March 2024

Champions Trophy PAK v WI: West Indies edge Pakistan by two wickets

Published
By Staff with Agencies

West Indies laboured to a nervous two-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Champions Trophy Group B match at the Oval on Friday after they had been set only 171 to win their opening game.

Man-of-the-match Kemar Roach, who had earlier ripped through the Pakistan top-order batting, secured the win for the world Twenty20 champions with a flamboyant boundary through the covers in the 41st over.

The victory target would have been even smaller had it not been for a battling 96 not out from Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, his highest score in 118 one-day internationals.

Misbah could have been out three times before reaching double figures but he managed to hang on and eventually batted with calm assurance, hitting three sixes and adding 32 for the last wicket with Mohammad Irfan (2).

Irfan, one of a trio of Pakistan left-arm fast bowlers and the tallest man in world cricket, extracted vicious lift from a good Oval pitch and troubled all the West Indies' batsman.

Johnson Charles (9) lofted a short delivery straight to Wahab Riaz at long-leg who had to move forward only a step to take a comfortable catch.

Darren Bravo (0) was beaten by pace, edging a catch behind to Kamran Akmal and even the customarily impassive Chris Gayle was forced to hurry his defensive shots.

Gayle decided to fight fire with fire, smacking a straight six off Imran with minimal foot movement and taking a boundary over mid-off followed by another through mid-wicket with a delightful flicked pull.

RESCUE ACT

He and Samuels took the total to 78 without further loss when Gayle was comprehensively bowled attempting to heave Saeed Ajmal out of the ground.

Riaz matched Irfan for speed from the Pavilion end, firing one delivery past Sarwan's attempted hook shot and unleashing another brute which brushed the batsman's glove and flew through to Akmal.

Pollard could make little of Ajmal's variations and Samuels (30) was easily stumped by Akmal after advancing well down the pitch to Pakistan's fifth bowler Mohammad Hafeez, only for the ball to pass the outside edge by a distance.

Riaz accounted for Keiron Pollard (30), captain Dwayne Bravo was lbw to Ajmal for 19 and Sunil Narine was caught off the excellent Irfan for 11 before Roach (five not out) and Denesh Ramin (11 not out) saw their side home.

After Bravo had asked Pakistan to bat, Roach took three for five from 14 deliveries with the new ball and Narine captured three for three from 10 balls in the middle of the innings with his flighted off-spin.

Bravo dived across from second slip in front of Gayle to grab a low catch off Imran Farhat (2) off the final ball of Roach's opening over.

Roach then knocked over Hafeez's middle stump when the Pakistan number three had scored four and Asad Shafiq was out without scoring when he upper-cut a Roach delivery straight to Ravi Rampaul at third man.

It could have been even worse for Pakistan when Misbah survived a confident appeal for lbw from Roach shuffling half forward before he had scored.

Off the next ball he was given out by Steve Davis caught behind by Ramdin. But after Davis had consulted with his fellow umpire Nigel Llong, the decision was reversed when the pair decided the wicketkeeper had not had effective control of the ball after making the catch.

Misbah was then dropped on four at short-leg by Pollard off Narine.

Narine accounted for opener Nasir Jamshed for an obdurate 50, Shoaib Malik (0) and Akmal (2) after Pakistan had rallied from 15 for three to 105 without further loss.

Riaz (6) and Ajmal (2) were both run out and Gayle took a magnificent leaping one-handed catch at slip to account for Junaid Khan (0) off Bravo's bowling.

Misbah, who was on 67 when the ninth wicket fell, found a willing partner in Irfan who contributed just two to a last-wicket partnership of 32 from 46 deliveries before Bravo took his third catch.

WEST INDIES INNINGS

A superb boundary from Roach and West Indies seal a close two-wicket victory over Pakistan.

Irfan is bowling really well. The pressure is back on West Indies. Need only six runs but with just two wickets it's still a tough chase. West Indies are 165 for 8 in 40 overs.

S Narine c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Irfan 11 (8b 2x4 0x6)

Irfan strikes and Narine is out. Windies need six to win but they have only two wickets in hand. Can they do it?

Eight runs from Ajmal's over. West Indies are 162 for 7 in 39 overs.

Another boundary from Narine and West Indies are 154 for 7 in 38 overs. They still need 17 to win.

Narine begins with a boundary. Welcome one for West Indies. They now need 24 runs from 13 overs. Windies are 147 for 7 in 37 overs.

K Pollard c Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz 30 (58b 3x4 1x6)

West Indies in trouble. Bravo is gone. Pakistan are looking good here. West Indies are 143 for 7 in 36.5 overs

K Pollard c Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz 30 (58b 3x4 1x6)

Pakistan strike. Riaz gets the edge of Pollard and celebrations. They needed this wicket badly. West Indies are 137 for 6 in 36 overs.

West Indies are 133 for 5 in 35 overs.

Pakistan need wicket here. West Indies are 127 for 5 in 34 overs.

West Indies look steady for the moment. They need 49 from 17 overs. West Indies are 122 for 5 in 33 overs.

Six runs from that over, West Indies are 119 for 5 in 32 overs.

West Indies are 113 for 5 in 31 overs. Drinks.

Finally some action. Pollard hammers a six and West Indies are 112 for 5 in 30 overs.

West Indies get two runs from that over. They are 103 for 5 in 29 overs.

West Indies need 69 from 132 balls. They are 102 for 5 in 28 overs.

Pollard and Bravo doing the rebuilding act here. West Indies are 99 for 5 in 27 overs.

M Samuels st K Akmal b M Hafeez 30 (57b 3x4 0x6)

Further trouble for West Indies. Hafeez removes Samuels. Pakistan supporters go berserk. Pakistan are 94 for 5 in 25.1 overs.

West Indies need 77 runs from 25 overs. They just need to ensure they don't lose wickets. Pakistan need them if they were to win this. West Indies are 94 for 4 in 25 overs.

West Indies batsmen are going really slow here. Another tight over and they reach 85 for 4 in 22 overs.

Only two runs from that over and West Indies are 83 for 4 in 21 overs.

Two successive maiden overs for Pakistan. Windies being overcautious here but good bowling from Pakistan as well. West Indies are 81 for 4 in 20 overs.

A maiden over. West Indies are 81 for 4 in 19 overs.

R Sarwan c Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Sarwan departs and West Indies losing their way here. They are 81 for 4 in 18 overs.

C Gayle b Saeed Ajmal 39 (47b 4x4 1x6)

Big wicket. Gayle is gone. A brilliant ball from Ajmal. Is this the turning point? West Indies are 78 for 3 in 17 overs

West Indies are sailing smoothly as they reach 72 for 2 in 16 overs.

Only one run from that over of Ajmal. West Indies are 65 for 2 in 15 overs.

Gayle reaches a steady 31 as West Indies are 64 for 2. They need another 107 to win.

West Indies are 53 for 2 in 12 overs.

Smooth sailing for the Windies. West Indies are 49 for 2 in 10 overs.

Two boundaries from Gayle and West Indies race to 44 for 2 in 9 overs.

Four runs from that over thanks to a boundary from Samuels. West Indies are 34 for 2 in 8 overs

A six from Gayle and Windies are 30 for 2 in 7 overs.

Gayle looking calm. West Indies are 20 for 2 in 6 overs.

West Indies are 17 for 2 in 5 overs.

D Bravo c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Irfan 0

Windies looking in trouble here. Irfan takes his second wicket as Bravo departs. West Indies are 15 for 2 in 4.2 overs.

Gayle gets a four and West Indies are 15 for 1 in 4 overs.

J Charles c Wahab Riaz b Mohammad Irfan 9 (14b 2x4 0x6)

Pakistan needed a wicket early on and Irfan gets one. Charles goes and West Indies are 11 for 1 in 3 overs.

A boundary from Charles and West Indies are 7 for no loss in 2 overs.

One run from the first over. Irfan has the height advantage. West Indies are 1 for no loss in 1 over.

Gayle, Charles to open for Windies. Irfan bowls for Pakistan.

It all looks fine now. Match to start any time soon. A delay of only 20 minutes.

The main cover is still on but the square cover has been removed. It's stopped raining for now.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Mohammad Irfan c D Bravo b Rampaul 2 (14b 0x4 0x6)

Rampaul gets Irfan and Misbah does not get that elusive century. Sad for him after playing such a crucial knock. Pakistan are 170 all out in 48 overs.

Irfan survives. So Misbah has a chance to get his century. He is on 95 and Pakistan are 169 for 9 in 47 overs.

Misbah on 94. But he is off strike now. Pakistan are 167 for 9 in 46 overs.

Misbah is the man for Pakistan. Leading from the front to add as much possible for the total. Pakistan are 159 for 9 in 45 overs.

Pakistan are 148 for 9 in 44 overs.

That's a first boundary in 61 balls for Pakistan as they reach 144 for 9 in 43 overs.

One run from the over. Pakistan are 139 for 9 in 42 over.

Junaid Khan c Gayle b DJ Bravo 0 (9b 0x4 0x6)

Junaid is gone and that's wicket number 9 for Pakistan. Pakistan are 138 for 9 in 41 overs.

Just one run. Nothing going right for Pakistan. They are 137 for 8 in 40 overs.

A maiden over from Narine. Pakistan are 136 for 8 in 39 overs.

Another disappointing over for Pakistan. Pakistan are 136 for 8 in 38 overs.

Saeed Ajmal run out 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

That was a crazy thing from Ajmal. Runs himself out and Pakistan are struggling at 136 for 8 in 37.5 overs.

Nothing going right for Pakistan at the moment. But Misbah still stands tall amid ruins. He is on 63. Pakistan are 131 for 7 in 37 overs.

Kamran Akmal c Ramdin b Narine 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Bravo gets a touch off a shot from Misbah to the stumps and Riaz was out of his crease. Pakistan are 128 for 7 in 36.1 overs.

Another partnership should do some good for Pakistan. Pakistan are 128 for 6 in 36 overs.

End of Roach's bowling. He bowled an amazing spell, only 28 runs from 10 overs. Pakistan are 123 for 6 in 35 overs.

Only one from that over. Pakistan are 118 for 6 in 34 overs.

Pakistan are 117 for 6 in 33 overs.Misbah is at 53.

Great over from Narine. He still has four overs to go. Pakistan are 110 for 6 in 32 overs.

Kamran Akmal c Ramdin b Narine 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Narine creating havoc. Picks his third wicket. Kamran Akmal this time and Pakistan in serious trouble. They are 110 for 6 in 31.5 overs.

Kamran taking time to settle down. Pakistan are 108 for 5 in 31 overs.

Great over from Narine. He has done the damage here picking two wickets. Pakistan 106 for 5 in 30 overs.

Shoaib Malik c D Bravo b Narine 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

That's terrible for Malik. Out the very first ball. Pakistan again in trouble at 106 for 5 in 29.5 overs.

Nasir Jamshed c Rampaul b Narine 50 (93b 5x4 0x6)

That was a terrible shot and Jamshed who played so well surrenders his wicket. Pakistan are 105 for 4 in 29.2 overs.

A timely and patient knock from Jamshed. His 50 comes off 91 balls. Pakistan are 105 for 3 in 29 overs.

Misbah and Jamshed slowly open up as Pakistan reach 100 for 3 in 28 overs.

Pakistan are 94 for 3 in 27 overs. Partnership reaches 79.

Five runs from Pollard's over. West Indies certainly don't want to lose the grip after dominating early. Pakistan are 89 for 3 in 26 overs.

Pakistan recovering well. Half way through the innings and Pakistan are 84 for 3 in 25 overs.

The first six of the innings finally comes from Misbah. Pakistan need more of that as they reach 77 for 3 in 24 overs.

Runs not coming easily for Pakistan. But at least they are not losing any more wickets. Pakistan are 66 for 3 in 22 overs.

Only three runs from that over off Bravo. Pakistan are 64 for 3 in 21 overs.

A boundary and Pakistan are 61 for 3 in 20 overs.

Another good over from Bravo. Only three runs from it. Pakistan are 55 for 3 in 19 overs

Misbah and Jamshed cautiously stitching together a partnership. Pakistan are 52 for 3 in 18 overs.

Spin comes into play. Samuels takes the ball. A steady partnership building on from skipper Misbah and Jamshed. Pakistan are 34 for 3 in 13 overs.

A boundary in that over from Jamshed eases the pressure. Pakistan are 30 for 3 in 12 overs.

Only one run coming off that over. Roach continues to bowl well. Pakistan are 24 for 3 in 11 overs.

Pakistan skipper has faced 11 deliveries and is yet to open his account. It's not easy in the middle as Pakistan reach 23 for 3 in 10 overs.

Misbah is lucky. Wicketkeeper misses a catch but was wrong to claim it. Anways the umpire turns down the appeal after a review. Pakistan are 17 for 3 in 9 overs.

Runs not coming easily for Pakistan. West Indies continue to bowl well. Pakistan are 17 for 3 in 8 overs.

Roach is bowling with a lot of purpose. His four overs have conceded only seven runs. Pakistan are 15 for 3 in 7 overs.

Asad Shafiq c Rampaul b Roach 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Roach is having a ball, picks up another wicket as Shafiq departs without a score.

Mohammad Hafeez b Roach 4 (9b 1x4 0x6)

Another beauty of a delivery from Roach and Pakistan are in trouble at 14 for 2 in 5 overs.

Jamshed gets the first boundary. Finally opens the account after going without a run for six balls. Pakistan are 9 for 1 in 4 overs.

Jamshed and Hafeez still have not opened their account. Pakistan are 4 for 1 in 3 overs.

Imran Farhat c D Bravo b Roach 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan are 2 for 1 in 1 over.

West Indies have won the toss and put Pakistan into bat in a group B match of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in England on Friday.

The big news is that former skipper Darren Sammy has been left out in place of Kieron Pollard.

PLAYING XI

Pakistan - Imran Farhat, N Jamshed, M Hafeez, A Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq, S Malik, K Akmal, S Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, J Khan, M Irfan

West Indies - C Gayle, J Charles, DM Bravo, M Samuels, R Sarwan, DJ Bravo, K Pollard, D Ramdin, S Narine, R Rampaul, K Roach