A brilliant display from Pakistan’s batters and bowlers helped it secure a 10-wicket win over the West Indies and a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
It will now await the winner of Thursday’s eagerly anticipated clash between India and Australia after Shahid Afridi’s four wickets helped dismiss the West Indies for just 112 all out.
Although Chris Gayle hit a couple of early boundaries, his dismissal in the third over to Umar Gul’s bowling started a nightmare day for the West Indies.
Mohammad Hafeez, who bowled beautifully to take 2-16 off his 10 overs, helped reduce the West Indies to 16-3 with two wickets in one over, and although Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul led a recovery of sorts, a careless shot by Sarwan off Afridi’s bowling saw him dismissed for 24.From 59-3, the West Indies crumbled to 71-8, as Afridi (4-30) and Saeed Ajmal (2-18) mesmerized the West Indies batting with some excellent spin bowling.
Chanderpaul, who made a patient 44 not out from 106 balls, and Kemar Roach then added 40 for the ninth wicket, but 112 all out was never going to be a defendable total.
In reply, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal showed the West Indies batters how it should be done with a series of aggressive shots, as they recorded their highest opening stand in the tournament so far.
However, both openers were fortunate to benefit from some disappointing fielding from the West Indies, as both players were dropped.
Hafeez reached his half century off 55 balls, eventually finishing on 61 not out, while Kamran Akmal made 47 not out, as Pakistan reached its target with 29.1 overs remaining.