GRENVILLE, Grenada, CMC – West Indies-A failed in their bid for a series-levelling victory, when Aamer Sajjad and Faisal Iqbal hit half-centuries to lead Pakistan-A to a five-wicket win in the rain-affected third and final One-day match yesterday.
The hosts failed to defend a target of 166 in 27 overs, as Sajjad struck three fours and three sixes in 70 from 89 balls, and Iqbal hit five fours and two sixes in 58 off 47 balls to lead the visitors to victory with just four balls to spare in the match at Progress Park.
Jonathan Carter had the unfortunate task of bowling the final over, with Pakistan needing six runs from six balls.
After his first delivery was a dot-ball, Sajjad eased the tension in his side’s dressing room, when he launched the part-time medium-paced bowler for a huge six over mid-wicket to formalise the result.
The victory meant that West Indies-A lost the three-match series 0-2, after the first match ended in a tie last Tuesday at the Grenada National Stadium Complex, where Pakistan-A won the second match by 71 runs last Thursday.
Kieran Powell had hit the top score of 44 from 54 balls, and hometown boy Andre Fletcher stroked 43 from 56 balls, as West Indies-A reached 165 from their allocation of 27 overs, after overnight and morning rain caused a wet outfield and delayed the start by 3 ½ hours.
West Indies-A seemed to have the match in hand, when Nikita Miller held a return catch to dismiss Khurram Manzoor to leave Pakistan-A on 32 for four.
But the home team lost their grip, when Iqbal joined Sajjad, and they batted with enterprise to add 102 for the fifth wicket that put the Pakistanis back on track.
When Ravi Rampaul had Iqbal caught behind, the Pakistanis were within sight of their target, but Sajjad remained unflappable to navigate them through the rocky waters towards the end.
Earlier, Fletcher and Powell gave West Indies-A a platform, after opener Johnson Charles became the first of three run-outs for the hosts.
After Fletcher was caught in the covers, there was little substance and little stability from the rest of the West Indies-A batting until Jason Holder with 20 not out and Carter with 17 not out rapidly added a valuable 34 in the closing overs to beef-up their side’s total.
The two sides now contest two four-day “Tests” in St. Vincent – the first opens on Thursday at the Arnos Vale Multiplex, where the second will also be played from November 23.