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Pakistan overcome hiccups to win series

Pakistan took an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five match one-day international against West Indies after winning y three wickets at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.

A rain delay reduced the match to 45 overs per team and West Indies, batting first, once again failed to build on a decent start, ending up with just 171 all out from 43.4 overs.

Pakistan were in trouble early in their reply when they slumped to 12-3 as Ravi Rampaul produced a superb opening spell, but a calming 62 not out from Misbah-ul-Haq saw the tourists home with almost five overs to spare.

West Indies needed early wickets to have any realistic chance and they got exactly that from Rampaul who picked up Mohammad Hafeez (5) and Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq for ducks with a spell of lively pace and bounce.

But Umar Akmal (30) steadied the ship before a fifth wicket partnership of 78 from Hammas Azam (36) and Misbah pushed Pakistan towards their target. There was time though for a twist in the tale as West Indies’ promising leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picked up three wickets to apply some late pressure with Pakistan at 148 for seven. Misbah, widely criticised for his slow batting display in the World Cup defeat to India, showed his value as a calm and intelligent middle order presence as, together with Riaz, he saw them safely reach their target.

Riaz finished off the proceedings with two big sixes but it was his senior partner who rightly won the plaudits. “There was a bit more bounce and pace in there than we were used to. I knew I had to bat through to the end,” said Misbah, while skipper Shahid Afridi hinted that there could be some squad rotation for the final two games of the series.