Mirpur, March 23:Pakistan entered the semi-finals of the 2011 ICC World Cup in style by thrashing West Indies by ten wickets in the first quarter-final played here at Mirpur. After bowling West Indies out for a mere 112 runs, Pakistan reached the target without losing a wicket.
Other than winning the toss, nothing else went the West Indies’ way. Captain Darren Sammy opted to bat first but the loss of Chris Gayle (8) and Devon Smith (7) before the sixth over of the innings was ominous for the side that have had a lacklustre World Cup. It only got worse as Darren Bravo, trapped lbw by Mohammad Hafeez, fell without opening his account. The West Indies’ score at the juncture – a disastrous 16 for three in 5.4 overs.
A brief 42-run partnership followed as Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul promised to resurrect the West Indies innings. Shahid Afridi, the World Cup’s leading wicket-taker had different plans though. He dismissed Sarwan (24), Kieron Pollard (1) and Devon Thomas (0) in the space of 11 deliveries to leave the Caribbean side tottering at 69 for six in 26.5 overs. Offspinner Saeed Ajmal contributed in the West Indies collapse by dismissing Darren Sammy (1) and Devendra Bishoo (0) in the very next over of the innings.
It was Chanderpaul’s battling knock of 44 not out that took the Windies past the 100-run mark. However, with Kemar Roach (16) falling to Abdul Razzaq and Afridi knocking over Ravi Rampaul (0) to claim his fourth wicket of the game, the West Indies, with a total of 112 runs, had to suffer the ignominy of being bowled out for their third lowest score in World Cup competitions.
Pakistan chased down that target with minimal fuss. Openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez launched into the West Indies bowling attack without giving them many opportunities. Hafeez brought up his half-century while Akmal remained not out on 47. A 113-run partnership between the two eclipsed the West Indies’ score in just 20.5 overs.
Pakistan’s victory gives them a place in the semi-final to be played at Mohali on March 30 where they will meet the winner of the India-Australia game to be held in Ahmedabad on March 24. West Indies, meanwhile, return to the Caribbean after a most disappointing quarter-final showing.
Brief scores: Pakistan113 for no loss in 20.5 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 61*, Kamran Akmal 47*) beat West Indies 112 all out in 43.3 overs (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 44*, Shahid Afridi 4/30, Mohammad Hafeez 2/16, Saeed Ajmal 2/18) by ten wickets.
Man-of-the-Match:Mohammad Hafeez for his all-round performance – 61* runs with the bat and bowling figures of 10-3-16-2
