Pakistan cruise past WI in ODI opener

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia, Apr 24 (AFP)" Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, and Mohammad Hafeez all coasted to half-centuries as Pakistan clinched a comfortable eight-wicket win over West Indies in the first one-day international Saturday. Misbah hit the top score of an unbeaten 73 from 90 deliveries, and Shafiq supported with 61 not out from 76 balls, after man-of-the-match Hafeez gave the Pakistanis a flying start with 54 from 45 balls in their successful chase of 222 for victory. Shafiq ushered Pakistan over the finish line with 51 balls remaining when he edged a slog at a delivery from Kemar Roach to third man for a single. The result gave Pakistanis a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues Monday at the same Beausejour ground. Wayward bowling from the visitors in the closing overs had let West Indies finish with 221 for six from their 50 overs. Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with two for 62 from 10 overs, but he and fellow left-arm fast-medium bowler Junaid Khan let their side down. Pakistan's spin bowling triumvirate of Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and captain Shahid Afridi tied the West Indies batsmen down in the middle overs in particular. But the two Pakistani left-arm pacers did not have the same control over the home team's batsmen and Darren Bravo hit 67 from 109 balls to lead the way for West Indies. "I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat because I thought the pitch would help our spinners," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. "I think our spinners have been doing a great job for us in the last few months, and they again set things up for us. Pakistan 222 for 2 (Misbah 73*, Shafiq 61*, Hafeez 54, Bishoo 2-48) beat West Indies 221 for 6 (Bravo 67, Sammy 29*, Ajmal 1-24, Hafeez 1-36) by 8 wickets.