Akmal puts Pakistan in lead
Friday, 14 November 2008
ABU DHABI, Nov 13 (AFP): Kamran Akmal hit two sixes in paceman Jerome Taylor's last over to help Pakistan beat the West Indies by four wickets in a dramatic finish to the first day-night international here Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting 295, Pakistan needed a tough 17 off the last over, but Akmal hit the second and third ball for sixes to give his team an unexpected win with a nine- ball 24 not out to overshadow Chris Gayle's brilliant century.
Gayle notched a 106-ball 113 to power his team to a challenging 294-9 in their 50 overs. Paceman Lionel Baker (3-47) nearly derailed Pakistan before Akmal and Fawad Alam (26 not out) changed the script.
Akmal walked in at the fall of Shoaib Malik's wicket whose enterprising 50-ball 66 nearly ended in vain but Akmal and Alam notched 33 needed off the last three overs to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Gayle's counterpart, Malik hit six boundaries and a six during his 50-ball knock to anchor Pakistan's run-chase.
Besides Malik, opener Khurrum Manzoor scored an 89-ball 69 (five fours) in his only second one-day international while the experienced Younus Khan made a 62-ball 56.
Chasing a daunting 295, Pakistan needed a tough 17 off the last over, but Akmal hit the second and third ball for sixes to give his team an unexpected win with a nine- ball 24 not out to overshadow Chris Gayle's brilliant century.
Gayle notched a 106-ball 113 to power his team to a challenging 294-9 in their 50 overs. Paceman Lionel Baker (3-47) nearly derailed Pakistan before Akmal and Fawad Alam (26 not out) changed the script.
Akmal walked in at the fall of Shoaib Malik's wicket whose enterprising 50-ball 66 nearly ended in vain but Akmal and Alam notched 33 needed off the last three overs to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Gayle's counterpart, Malik hit six boundaries and a six during his 50-ball knock to anchor Pakistan's run-chase.
Besides Malik, opener Khurrum Manzoor scored an 89-ball 69 (five fours) in his only second one-day international while the experienced Younus Khan made a 62-ball 56.