GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC- West Indies bowlers and batsmen failed to capitalize on an early breakthrough from promising fast bowler Jason Holder allowing come-back kid Shahid Afridi to unleash a game transforming all-round performance to lead Pakistan to a 126 run win in their first ODI at the Guyana national stadium today.
Holder delivered a searing new-ball spell of 8-4-8-4 as Pakistan keeled over at 47 for five before the flamboyant Afridi and the patient Misbah-Ul- Haq, with contrasting half centuries, drove the visitors to 224.
Afridi, recalled after missing last month’s Champions Trophy due to poor form, returned to claim career best figures of 7 for 12 and lead a bowling attack that flattened the West Indies batting as the homeside, who won the toss and opted to field, folded for 98 in 41 overs.
West Indies’ decision to pick Holder for Tino Best paid off in spectacular fashion as the young Bajan, playing only his fourth ODI, ripped through the new-look Pakistan line-up.
The two top-order batsmen were bowled while attempting to leave the ball.
Holder got the ball to move away late and Ahmed Shehzad ended up inside-edging onto the stumps while Mohammad Hafeez also looked to let the ball go but the delivery darted in to take the offstump.
Holder then dismissed Nasir Jamshed lbw for 6 and Asad Shafiq went without scoring to superb diving catch from wicketkeeper Johnson Charles, leaving Pakistan at 23 for 4.
Pakistan lost three wickets for eight runs in a 10-over spell and were in trouble at 47 for five with the last two recognize batting pair at the wicket.
Afridi plundered 76 off 55 balls hitting six fours and five sixes while ul-Haq compiled his innings slowly to score 52 as they sought to repair the damage caused by Holder.
Early into the chase, West Indies were reduced to 7 for 3, the second lowest score for which they have lost three wickets in ODIs.
Mohammad Irfan’s swinging low full toss removed Johnson Charles in the first over for a duck and Darren Bravo was caught down the leg side.
However the biggest breakthrough came from a direct hit from Misbah at cover, catching Chris Gayle well short while attempting a single.
Afridi’s innings transforming performance continued with two wickets in two balls that all but wiped out West Indies hopes.
Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons played cautiously batting out 15 overs and scoring only 34 runs on a turning track as the run rate crept above six and their chances slowly evaporating.
Samuels top scored with 25 while Darren Sammy was not out on 21.
Afridi’s mix of legspinners, quick sliders, the occasional googly and the odd offbreak proved too much for West Indies’ batsmen.
Pollard holed out to long-off for 3 and minutes later Samuels was lbw to a delivery that turned in.
Afridi who was named match of the match finished with unbelievable figures of 9- 3- 12- 7.
The West Indies poor batting performance was in front a large turnout of spectators starved of international cricket for two years as a result of a conflict between the government and the cricket board.
PAKISTAN
Nasir Jamshed lbw b Holder 6
Ahmed Shehzad b Holder 5
Mohammad Hafeez b Holder 1
Misbah-ul-Haq* c †Charles b DJ Bravo 52
Asad Shafiq c †Charles b Holder 0
Umar Akmal† c DJ Bravo b Roach 19
Shahid Afridi c Sammy b Pollard 76
Wahab Riaz c Holder b Roach 7
Saeed Ajmal not out 15
Asad Ali b DJ Bravo 11
Mohammad Irfan not out 4
Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 23) 28
Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 224
Fall of wickets 1-15 (Ahmed Shehzad, 3.3 ov), 2-18 (Mohammad Hafeez, 5.6 ov), 3-21 (Nasir Jamshed, 7.6 ov), 4-23 (Asad Shafiq, 9.1 ov), 5-47 (Umar Akmal, 20.1 ov), 6-167 (Shahid Afridi, 38.6 ov), 7-183 (Wahab Riaz, 44.2 ov), 8-200 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 47.2 ov), 9-220 (Asad Ali, 49.5 ov)
Bowling:Roach 10-0-38-2, Holder 10-4-13-4,Sammy 8-2-35-0,Bravo10-3-52-2, Narine3-0-32-0,Samuels 3-0-24-0, Pollard 6-0-25-1
WEST INDIES
CH Gayle run out (Misbah-ul-Haq) 1
Charles† b Mohammad Irfan 0
DM Bravo c †Umar Akmal b Mohammad Irfan 5
M Samuels lbw b Shahid Afridi 25
L Simmons st †Umar Akmal b Shahid Afridi 10
DJ Bravo* lbw b Shahid Afridi 0
K Pollard c Wahab Riaz b Shahid Afridi 3
D Sammy not out 21
K Roach c & b Shahid Afridi 1
S Narine c Nasir Jamshed b Shahid Afridi 14
J Holder lbw b Shahid Afridi 1
Extras ( b1, lb 6, w11) 18
Total (ten wickets, 41 overs) 98
Fall of wickets 1-1 (Charles, 0.2 ov), 2-7 (DM Bravo, 4.3 ov), 3-7 (Gayle, 4.6 ov), 4-41 (Simmons, 22.1 ov), 5-41 (DJ Bravo, 22.2 ov), 6-50 (Pollard, 26.1 ov), 7-51 (Samuels, 28.2 ov), 8-55 (Roach, 30.4 ov), 9-98 (Narine, 40.2 ov), 10-98 (Holder, 40.6 ov)
Bowling: Mohammad Irfan, 7-2-17-2, Asad Ali 5-0-13-0, Wahab Riaz 5-1-8-0, Saeed Ajmal 7-0-25-0,Mohammad Hafeez 8-1-16-0, Shahid Afridi 9-3-12-7.
Result:Pakistan won by 126 runs
Player of the match:Shahid Afridi
Toss: West Indies
Umpire: Paul Reiffel and Joel Wilson, TV Nigel Llong