Photographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
The West Indies got off to a winning start in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating Pakistan by two wickets in a low-scoring Group B encounter at the Kennington Oval, in London, on Friday.
After skipper Dwayne Bravo won the toss and elected to bowl, they dismissed Pakistan for paltry 170 in 48 overs, pacer Kemar Roach, who was adjudged man of the match later, and spinner Sunil Narine sharing six wickets between them.
Pakistan were able to put up a fighting total, thanks to their skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, who laboured his way to an unbeaten 96 and shared a 91-run stand with opener Nasir Jamshed (50) for the fourth wicket.
The West Indies made heavy weather of the target, scampering home with two wickets in hand in 40.4 overs.
- Click NEXT for more photos from the match
Roach strikes early
Image: Kemar Roach celebrates after picking the wicket of Imran FarhatPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Kemar Roach didn't take long to strike. He dismissed Imran Farhat in the opening over of the innings.
Farhat pushed at a wide delivery from Roach, only to edge it skipper Bravo in the slips.
Hafeez fails to contribute
Image: Mohammad Hafeez walks back to the pavilionPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Mohammad Hafeez too failed to get going. He succumbed to a straight delivery from Roach.
He missed the line completely and the ball crashed on to his middle stump.
Pakistan were reeling at 15-3 when Asad Shafiq was on his way back after Roach bounced him out in his third over.
Misbah-Jamshed steady Pak innings
Image: Nasir Jamshed plays a shot through leg sidePhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Nasir Jamshed dropped anchor and steadied Pakistan with a crucial 90-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Jamshed took his time in the middle, dealing in singles and getting the odd boundary. Misbah was the aggressor in contrast, even hitting Kieron Pollard for a maximum.
Pakistan collapse
Image: Sunil Narine is congratulated by Dwyane Bravo after he takes the wicket of Kamran AkmalPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Nasir Jamshed soon reached his half-century with a single off Marlon Samuels, but couldn't last long. He gifted his wicket to Sunil Narine after mistiming a shot straight down Ravi Rampaul's throat.
Narine then snapped Shoaib Malik -- a golden duck for him, as he hit straight to Bravo at deep midwicket.
Narine then had his third wicket when he dismissed Kamran Akmal caught behind by Denesh Ramdin.
Misbah wages a lone battle
Image: Misbah-ul-Haq walks back at the end of Pakistan's inningsPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq waged a lone battle as he carried his bat through with an unbeaten 96.
As wickets tumbled around him, he took the attack to the opposition, looking for that elusive century in ODIs but failed to get it as Mohammad Irfan gloved one to Dwayne Bravo off Rampaul.
Misbah, who could have been out twice before he had scored, struck three sixes before Pakistan were dismissed for a modest 170.
Irfan provides Pakistan early breakthrough
Image: Muhammed Irfan celebrates taking the wicket of Johnson CharlesPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles open the batting for the West Indies after a brief rain delay. Mohammad Irfan, first up for Pakistan, conceded just one run.
Charles hit the first ball of the bowler's second over for a four, but it was the Irfan who had the last laugh, as three balls later, he had Charles (9) caught by Wahab Riaz at fine leg.
Ajmal checks Gayle
Image: Chris Gayle of West Indies is bowledPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
A single by Gayle in Saeed Ajmal's third over saw the batsman raise a 50-run partnership for the third wicket with Marlon Samuels.
Hafeez gives Pakistan vital breakthrough
Image: Marlon Samuels is stumped by Kamran AkmalPhotographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Mohammad Hafeez provided Pakistan a vital breakthrough in the 26th over, having Samuels (20) stumped.
At that stage the West Indies were in trouble at 94 for 5 after 25.1 overs.
Comment
article