Pakistan outplay West Indies in ODI series

KARACHi—Mohammad Hafeez hit 92 as Pakistan beat West Indies by seven wickets in Karachi to seal a 3-1 one-day series success. Hafeez struck five fours and two sixes to inspire the victory without Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam needing to bat.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul had posted his fourth one-day ton but the West Indies total of 238-7 looked below par, Rana Naved restricting them with 4-43. Kamran Akmal hammered 56 in 59 balls as Pakistan raced to 87 from 16 overs and eventually won with 19 deliveries left.
Hunting a win to square the series, the World Cup hosts were put in and opener Chanderpaul hit 101 off 142 balls. Naved checked the mid-innings progress with 4-43 while Brian Lara’s 44 took him past 10,000 career runs. Sixteen runs came off the final over, bowled by Naved, even though the first ball ended the innings of Dwayne Smith. Chanderpaul’s century was his first in one-day internationals since 2002 and was particularly necessary after Chris Gayle was trapped by Naved for seven.
Although far from his best, with only three boundaries in his 44, Lara helped Chanderpaul add 96 from 108 balls before he too fell victim to Naved. The Sussex seamer then added Chanderpaul to his collection, courtesy of a catch at deep mid-wicket in the 48th over. Pakistan Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believed that triumph against West Indies in the test and one-day series has largely boosted his team’s confidence for next month’s tough and testing tour of South Africa. “We could not do well on the tour of England and in the Champions Trophy. But wins against West Indies and good performances has given us confidence,” he told reporters in post match press conference at National Stadium after Pakistan beat West Indies by seven wicket to wrap-up five match series 3-1 after opening match of the series was washed out in Rawalpindi.
“South African tour will be tough but we are ready for it,” Inzamam remarked.
“Credit to the victory goes to the whole team as they worked very hard for victories,” he said. He commended the performance of fast medium bowler Rana Naved-ul- Hasan, who was named man of the match and player of the series. “Rana had made a good comeback and superb bowling performances after early struggling early on” he pointed out.
Commenting in newcomer left arm spin bowler Abdur Rehman he said “He is good bowler and declared him as the find of the one-day series”. Inzamam, who was given special award of best fielder of the series by PCB Chairman Dr.Nasim Ashraf said he himself was surprised by the decision.
West Indies skipper Brian Lara said his boys has done well and played good cricket during over three and half month tour of Malaysia, India and Pakistan.
Commenting on his team’s defeat, he said his team his team was 25 runs short of total. “Pakistan played well and they deserved to win,” he said.
Brian Lara, who was playing his farewell match in Pakistan appreciated the sporting crowd of Karachi for applauding him.
Beaming Man of the match and series, Rana Naved said he was troubled by injury in the recent past but gained confidence during the ODI series.
“There was nothing in the pitch for pacers but I bowled with variations and was rewarded for that. “ he said. “I always tried to do something for team and Pakistan,” he maintained. —Agencies