KINGSTON,
Jamaica - Dwayne Smith featured with both bat and ball to inspire West
Indies to a 54-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of
Cricket World Cup 2007 at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
The exciting all-rounder smashed a quickfire 32 off 15 balls that
helped West Indies to 241 for nine off their 50 overs, and returned to
grab three vital wickets in the middle of the Pakistan innings to
restrict the 1992 champions to 187 in 47.2 overs, despite an aggressive
62 by Shoaib Malik.
The victory sparked huge celebrations among a near capacity crowd, and
gave Brian Lara's side a boost in their quest to become to first host
team to win the World Cup.
Sent in after Pakistan won the toss, West Indies owed their total
mainly to Marlon Samuels' impressive 69 and Ramnaresh Sarwan's 49, but
it was Smith's excitement "at the death" that helped them to a total
with which they could work.
The right-hander blasted three sixes and then came back with the ball
to remove two of Pakistan's key batsman at a critical stage.
With fast bowlers Umur Gul and Rao Iftikhar bowling well at the start,
the hosts were kept in check, despite a second-wicket stand of 56
between Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
They came together in the third over after Gul removed Chris Gayle by
way of a catch to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, as the opener edged a
defensive stroke.
Sarwan, dropped by Younis Khan at second slip to the first ball he
faced, showed positive intent in striking eight fours before edging a
drive to first slip off Iftikhar.
SAMUELS PLAYS CONFIDENTLY
Samuels was in wonderful touch from the moment he went to the crease
and played equally confident against both pace and spin.
He sent the crowd into a frenzy, when he magnificently lifted Iftikhar
for a straight six, and there was more jubilation around the ground
when advanced down the pitch and lifted leg-spinner Danish Kaneira over
long-on and into the new North Stand.
The hometown boy reached his half-century in grand style with another
straight six against off-spinner Shoaib Malik.
Samuels however, failed to carry on, and ended up giving a catch to
long-on off off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez after striking eight fours and
three sixes off 68 balls.
By then, West Indies had also lost captain Brian Lara for a measured 37
off 58 balls, falling to an attempted sweep that resulted in an edged
catch to the keeper of Hafeez.
It was Akmal's third catch of the innings, following an excellent
tumbling effort earlier that accounted for Sarwan when the West Indies
vice-captain was one short of his 50.
Lara, Samuels, and Denesh Ramdim fell in quick succession, causing West
Indies to lose momentum, and it required Smith to come in and provide a
flurry at the end.
Smith's departure in the 49th over led to another clatter of wickets,
but the crowd had something to shout about when Corey Collymore swatted
the final ball of the innings over long-on for a six.
Pakistan's response started in sensational fashion with a six by Imran
Nazir off Daren Powell to the second ball, and the drama continued next
ball, when the batsman edged a drive to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
SUSTAIN PRESSURE
West Indies sustained the pressure by removing Younis Khan, who edged
an attempted pull off Jerome Taylor to the keeper, and the advantage
was with the home team at 39 for three, following the dismissal of
Mohammad Hafeez, who gave a catch to mid-on off Powell.
Pakistan were in need of a consolidation and they got it from their two
most experienced batsman, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf,
the pair responsibly adding 60 for the fourth wicket.
As the partnership grew worrying for West Indies, Smith made three
telling strikes that put West Indies on course for victory.
He first dislodged Yousuf for 37 as the prolific right-hander was
caught at the wicket trying to cut.
Inzamam made 36 before falling lbw when he played across the line, and
Smith tightened West Indies' grip next ball, when Akmal was
magnificently caught low down by a diving Dwayne Bravo at point.
The slide was halted in a seventh-wicket partnership of 28 between
Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan before the latter missed a big
swing against Bravo and was bowled.
There was another useful stand before Bravo took an excellent return
match to claim his third wicket, and the match ended with Malik, who
hit six fours and a six off 84 balls, was caught at deep mid-off.
