Castries, St Lucia, April 19 PPI: Pakistan started their Caribbean tour in style when Mohammad Hafeez led them from the front with an unbeaten century to a victory by 68 runs on Monday over University of West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI in the only warm-up cricket match.
Hafeez, who was leading the side in absence of resting Shahid Afridi, made full use of the opportunityand played with responsibility after a drop catch in the first over during his 101 runs unbeaten knockthat paved the way for Pakistan’s victory. Keron Cottoy dropped Pakistan stand-in skipper at backward point in the first over by fast bowler Fidel Edwards, but Hafeez never looked back after that and hit 10 boundaries and two sixes during his 93-ball century innings. Hafeez along with Taufeeq scored 77 runs for the first wicket before adding 130 runs for the second wicket with Ahmed Shehzad.
Some of the top-order batsmen also got some needed batting practice as the left-hand opening batsman Taufeeq Umar scored 44 runs, and out-of-form Ahmed Shehzad hit 49 runs before Umar Akmal once again showed his class in the middle order with an unbeaten 57 runs innings that elevated Pakistan to 287 runs for the loss of seven wickets from their 50 overs. Hammad Azam scored 14 runs and lost his wicketin a bid to score maximum runs in the death overs.
Pakistan’s coach had put his young middle order batsman Umar Akmal in the limelight after reaching theCaribbean and the youngster never disappointed as he hit a flurry of boundaries towards the end of theinnings striking eight fours and a six. CR Brathwaite was the best bowler for hosts as he captured three scalps for just 38 runs while NE Bonner grabbed two wickets for 25.
In reply, Pakistan, who are without services of their premier fast bowler Umar Gul, bowled impressively well with the new ball as Junaid Khan and Tanvir Ahmed got new ball to swing both ways asthey got rid of the opening pair of OJ Phillips (9) and MC Bascombe (26) with the total at 44 runs.
Wahab Riaz also bowled in a good channel getting the wicket of KAM Corbin (10) as UWI VC’s XI found themselves in a spot of bother. Left-arm off-spin bowler Abdur Rehman then came into the attack and dented the middle order batting line-up hard with some probing off-spin bowling getting rid of four West Indian batsmen.
Only Dwayne Bravo managed to put up a fight with 63 runs innings from 70 balls while NE Bonner (43) also showed some resistance but they could never put the chase on the right track as Abdur Rehman sentfour batsmen back in the hut for just 27 runs as the home team could score only 219 runs for the loss of eight wickets from their 50 overs thus falling 68 runs short of the target. PPI
Hafeez, who was leading the side in absence of resting Shahid Afridi, made full use of the opportunityand played with responsibility after a drop catch in the first over during his 101 runs unbeaten knockthat paved the way for Pakistan’s victory. Keron Cottoy dropped Pakistan stand-in skipper at backward point in the first over by fast bowler Fidel Edwards, but Hafeez never looked back after that and hit 10 boundaries and two sixes during his 93-ball century innings. Hafeez along with Taufeeq scored 77 runs for the first wicket before adding 130 runs for the second wicket with Ahmed Shehzad.
Some of the top-order batsmen also got some needed batting practice as the left-hand opening batsman Taufeeq Umar scored 44 runs, and out-of-form Ahmed Shehzad hit 49 runs before Umar Akmal once again showed his class in the middle order with an unbeaten 57 runs innings that elevated Pakistan to 287 runs for the loss of seven wickets from their 50 overs. Hammad Azam scored 14 runs and lost his wicketin a bid to score maximum runs in the death overs.
Pakistan’s coach had put his young middle order batsman Umar Akmal in the limelight after reaching theCaribbean and the youngster never disappointed as he hit a flurry of boundaries towards the end of theinnings striking eight fours and a six. CR Brathwaite was the best bowler for hosts as he captured three scalps for just 38 runs while NE Bonner grabbed two wickets for 25.
In reply, Pakistan, who are without services of their premier fast bowler Umar Gul, bowled impressively well with the new ball as Junaid Khan and Tanvir Ahmed got new ball to swing both ways asthey got rid of the opening pair of OJ Phillips (9) and MC Bascombe (26) with the total at 44 runs.
Wahab Riaz also bowled in a good channel getting the wicket of KAM Corbin (10) as UWI VC’s XI found themselves in a spot of bother. Left-arm off-spin bowler Abdur Rehman then came into the attack and dented the middle order batting line-up hard with some probing off-spin bowling getting rid of four West Indian batsmen.
Only Dwayne Bravo managed to put up a fight with 63 runs innings from 70 balls while NE Bonner (43) also showed some resistance but they could never put the chase on the right track as Abdur Rehman sentfour batsmen back in the hut for just 27 runs as the home team could score only 219 runs for the loss of eight wickets from their 50 overs thus falling 68 runs short of the target. PPI
