With his fourth half-century in five games this series, the world's
leading ODI run-getter of 2013 shepherded his volatile band of batsmen
home in another tricky chase. Misbah-ul-Haq battled falling wickets at
the other end, a charged up Tino Best, and a rain interruption as late
as the 98th over of the game to take Pakistan to their third successive
away bilateral series win over West Indies. Yet again this series, Umar
Akmal was called upon to overcome the asking-rate towards the end, and
once more, he did not disappoint, delivering the series to Pakistan with
a 3-1 margin.
Misbah formed partnerships with Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail and Akmal
before falling in the last over trying to slog the winning hit, with the
scores tied. He had already ensured Pakistan had won the series; a tie
would have meant the margin would have been 2-1.
When Sohail became the latest profligate Pakistan batsman to fall,
chasing a wide Best delivery, Pakistan needed 83 from 12 overs. Best,
having conceded 25 off his first three overs, was in the mood for a
furious comeback. Pinging down bouncers in the mid-140s, he smacked one
into Misbah's fingers. While the storm was being weathered by the
captain, Akmal did his act at the other end.
The inexperienced Jason Holder was taken for three successive fours in
the next over, the 41st, the second of those coming off a poor effort at
fine leg from Marlon Samuels. It wasn't the first time West Indies had
messed up in the field today, and it wasn't to be the last. Akmal
steered a short ball to the fine third man rope next ball. Holder
cracked further under pressure, four leg-byes resulting off Misbah's pad
down the leg side off the last ball of the over.
Misbah managed a four off an inside edge to Sunil Narine next over and
held his nerve to reverse-sweep the offspinner for four more. Then
arrived the moment which once again highlighted what a farce a
watered-down DRS
has been in this series, in the absence of HotSpot. West Indies were
sure Misbah had gloved a Best bouncer to the keeper down leg, the
on-field umpire did not agree, and the third umpire had too much
guesswork to do with only replays and sound as tools. Misbah was on 49
then, and Pakistan would have needed 53 of 46 had he been given. Darren
Bravo had been given caught-behind on referral on the basis of sound
earlier and West Indies had a right to expect consistency.
Though Best predictably lost his temper, West Indies were not giving in.
Dwayne Bravo, who often disappears for plenty at the death, delivered
two tight overs. But Akmal found the big stroke when Pakistan sorely
needed it. Narine was cut for four, Best was carted over mid-off for
six. A top-edge flew over the keeper for four more, but even as clouds
swept in over the stadium, Akmal holed out to mid-off for 37 off 28.
A 20-minute break followed but Pakistan were ahead on D/L by five runs,
and safe in the knowledge that the series was theirs, in case no further
play was possible. Sunshine followed soon, though, and Shahid Afridi
weighed in at the hit end of the hit-or-miss scale. Bravo was pulled for
six over deep midwicket and punched past point for four. Game over? Not
yet.
Misbah hit Holder to short midwicket second ball of the final over, and
Saeed Ajmal took three deliveries to get bat on ball. Had the throw from
mid-on hit, it would have gone down to the final ball. It didn't, and
Afridi and Ajmal hugged, as did their team-mates in the Pakistan
dressing room.
Credit for the win also went to Shehzad, who made his first substantial
score of the series, and guided Pakistan's chase amid tight bowling from
Narine and Darren Sammy. The pitch eased out further in the second
innings. Cutting and pulling without trouble, Nasir Jamshed and Shehzad
brought up Pakistan's first 50-run opening stand in 17 innings,
excluding a game against Scotland.
Trust Pakistan to blow such a rare promising start. Jamshed was stranded
for the second game running, Shehzad taking a few steps and stopping
this time, after Mohammad Hafeez in the previous game. Hafeez himself
got a start and then had a heave at Sammy. However, Shehzad had Misbah
to steady things.
The opposing captain's cameo had earlier taken his side to to 242 for 7
from 170 for 6. Dwayne Bravo, with 48 off 27, was assisted by his
predecessor, Darren Sammy, who made an unbeaten 29 off 18.
The West Indies top six never managed any sort of sustained partnership.
Two of them, Johnson Charles and Samuels, got forties, but were also
the ones who struggled to score the most. Devon Smith fell early yet
again. Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons were unable to convert starts.
Junaid Khan was outstanding, barring the last over when Sammy went after
him, making a case for him to have played through the series. Mohammad
Irfan was unlucky not to break through in his opening spell, but came
back even stronger to remove Charles and Samuels. West Indies took 64
from the last five overs, but Misbah's calm and Akmal's aggression were
enough to overhaul that.
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