The first Twenty20 between Pakistan and West Indies culminated in a two-wicket victory for the tourists after sensational two innings. The match played in Arnos Vale Grounds saw many ups and downs for both teams. After Pakistan took an excellent start by taking early wickets, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy turned the tables on the greens shirts. Pakistan did the same. As the hosts ruined the initial batting line-up of Pakistan, Shahid Afridi and Umar Amin took the team back n to the game. However, it was the four and the six in the last over of the match by the debutant Zulfiqar Babar that earned the win for Pakistan.
[caption id="attachment_1945" align="alignright" width="248"]
It was the day for debutant Zulfiqar Babar: three wickets, an unbelievable catch and then four and a six in the last over (Photo: WICB)[/caption]
Pakistan seemed to be chasing the target easily as they needed another 16 runs in 2 overs and Afridi’s bat had been prolific from the beginning. He smashed a four to Shannon Gabriel to fine leg, and the tourists were now a few balls away from the win. But Afridi lost his wicket in an attempt to hit a six at the time when it was the least needed. Pakistan’s win was now once again uncertain.
As the greens shirts needed 6 runs in the last over, Zulfiqar Babar carved out an unexpected boundary. Now Pakistan needed 2 runs for 5 balls. But Samuels did not seem to let it go too easily. The next two balls were bowled. Pakistan needed 2 for 4. Then 2 for 3. “Are we heading to another tie?” fans of the both sides were thinking. The scores leveled on the next ball. But Saeed Ajmal got run out on the second last ball, and now the tourists needed 1 for 1. Babar was facing Samuels. As everyone was thinking how could the debutant earn a run for the team, Babar left all and sundry astonished by hitting a six. Phew! Pakistan had won the match.
Earlier in the innings Pakistan did not get off well as they started chasing a target of 153 runs. Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad had left the ground on just 10 runs. Though Pakistan maintained the run rate, but the batsmen were failing to stay at the crease. Mohammad Hafeez lost his wicket in the fifth over to Sunil Narine when he tried to hit the ball after smashing two fours.
Umar Amin was playing superbly on the other end. He hit three fours to Gabriel as he came to the crease, and then four fours to Samuel Badree. Umar Akmal once again fell prey to his adventurism. Sammy’s throw ended his innings. Pakistan were 77 for 4. But what happened next was a nightmare for the tourists. Amin was dismissed in the 12th over after scoring 47 runs in 34 balls. Now Shahid Afridi and Hammad Azam were the last pair who could save the day for the team.
When Azam lost his wicket, it was all up to the Boom Boom. The innings was Afridi, who had started his batting with a six, deserved to reach 50, but he adapted to his conventional style in the 19th over, and it cost him his wicket.
West Indies thought it was done. But Babar was at the crease to perform miracles for the team. His four and six in the last over helped the team seal victory.
Gabriel took three wicket for the team, whereas Badree, Narine and Samuels took one each.
Earlier, West Indies start was not different from the opponents. Hafeez and Babar dismissed initial four batsmen on just 42 runs. But later when Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan were conceding runs, Hafeez did not dare take the ball in his hands. Kieron Pollard remained unbeaten on 49 off 36 while Darren Sammy scored 30 off 14. Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo scored 25 runs apiece.
Pakistan’s bowling in the end was a complete shambles. West Indies made 86 runs in the last 10 overs, including 55 runs in the last 5.
Babar bowled well in his first match of his career. He took three wickets – Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo.
Afridi was given man of the match for his 46, but he said Babar deserved the title, and perhaps rightly so.
The second T20 will be played tomorrow (Sunday).
[caption id="attachment_1945" align="alignright" width="248"]
It was the day for debutant Zulfiqar Babar: three wickets, an unbelievable catch and then four and a six in the last over (Photo: WICB)[/caption]Pakistan seemed to be chasing the target easily as they needed another 16 runs in 2 overs and Afridi’s bat had been prolific from the beginning. He smashed a four to Shannon Gabriel to fine leg, and the tourists were now a few balls away from the win. But Afridi lost his wicket in an attempt to hit a six at the time when it was the least needed. Pakistan’s win was now once again uncertain.
As the greens shirts needed 6 runs in the last over, Zulfiqar Babar carved out an unexpected boundary. Now Pakistan needed 2 runs for 5 balls. But Samuels did not seem to let it go too easily. The next two balls were bowled. Pakistan needed 2 for 4. Then 2 for 3. “Are we heading to another tie?” fans of the both sides were thinking. The scores leveled on the next ball. But Saeed Ajmal got run out on the second last ball, and now the tourists needed 1 for 1. Babar was facing Samuels. As everyone was thinking how could the debutant earn a run for the team, Babar left all and sundry astonished by hitting a six. Phew! Pakistan had won the match.
Earlier in the innings Pakistan did not get off well as they started chasing a target of 153 runs. Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad had left the ground on just 10 runs. Though Pakistan maintained the run rate, but the batsmen were failing to stay at the crease. Mohammad Hafeez lost his wicket in the fifth over to Sunil Narine when he tried to hit the ball after smashing two fours.
Umar Amin was playing superbly on the other end. He hit three fours to Gabriel as he came to the crease, and then four fours to Samuel Badree. Umar Akmal once again fell prey to his adventurism. Sammy’s throw ended his innings. Pakistan were 77 for 4. But what happened next was a nightmare for the tourists. Amin was dismissed in the 12th over after scoring 47 runs in 34 balls. Now Shahid Afridi and Hammad Azam were the last pair who could save the day for the team.
When Azam lost his wicket, it was all up to the Boom Boom. The innings was Afridi, who had started his batting with a six, deserved to reach 50, but he adapted to his conventional style in the 19th over, and it cost him his wicket.
West Indies thought it was done. But Babar was at the crease to perform miracles for the team. His four and six in the last over helped the team seal victory.
Gabriel took three wicket for the team, whereas Badree, Narine and Samuels took one each.
Earlier, West Indies start was not different from the opponents. Hafeez and Babar dismissed initial four batsmen on just 42 runs. But later when Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan were conceding runs, Hafeez did not dare take the ball in his hands. Kieron Pollard remained unbeaten on 49 off 36 while Darren Sammy scored 30 off 14. Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo scored 25 runs apiece.
Pakistan’s bowling in the end was a complete shambles. West Indies made 86 runs in the last 10 overs, including 55 runs in the last 5.
Babar bowled well in his first match of his career. He took three wickets – Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo.
Afridi was given man of the match for his 46, but he said Babar deserved the title, and perhaps rightly so.
The second T20 will be played tomorrow (Sunday).
West Indies vs Pakistan
1st T20 International
July 27, 2013
Venue: Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown
Result: Pakistan won by 2 wickets
Man of the macth: Shahid Afridi
 | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Charles | b Hafeez | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Gayle | lbw b Hafeez | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Marlon Samuels | c & b Zulfiqar Babar | 25 | 22 | 4 | 1 |
| Lendl Simmons | b Zulfiqar Babar | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Dwayne Bravo | c Saeed Ajmal b Zulfiqar Babar | 25 | 35 | 2 | 0 |
| Kieron Pollard | not out | 49 | 36 | 4 | 2 |
| Darren Sammy | c Hammad Azam b Mohammad Irfan | 30 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| Sunil Narine | run out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (byes 2, leg-byes 3, wides 6) | 11 | |||
| Total | (7 wickets; 20 overs) | ||||
| Pakistan (bowling) | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Hafeez | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Mohammad Irfan | 3 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Saeed Ajmal | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Shahid Afridi | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Junaid Khan | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
 Target: 153 runs | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasir Jamshed | c Simmons b Gabriel | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Ahmed Shehzad | c Pollard b Badree | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Hafez | c Gabriel b Narine | 13 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Umar Amin | st †Charles b Samuels | 47 | 34 | 9 | 0 |
| Umar Akmal | run out (Sammy) | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Hammad Azam | c Polalrd b Gabriel | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Shahid Afridi | c Bravo b Gabriel | 46 | 27 | 4 | 2 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | not out | 13 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| Saeed Ajmal | run out (Simmons) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Junaid Khan | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lbw 2, wides 9) | ||||
| Total | (8 wickets; 20 overs) | ||||
| West Indies (bowling) | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon Gabriel | 4 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| Samuel Badree | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Tino Best | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Marlon Samuels | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Darren Sammy | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours