The Hindu : Sport : Razzaq bowls Pakistan to victory

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Friday, May 20, 2005

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Razzaq bowls Pakistan to victory

PHOTO: AP

JUBILATION: Abdul Razzaq's four-wicket haul helped Pakistan post a convincing win.

KINGSTOWN: Abdul Razzaq claimed four for 29 to help Pakistan defeat West Indies by 59 runs in the first One-day cricket International at Arnos Vale on Wednesday.

West Indies, coming off a 5-0 series sweep at the hands of South Africa, slumped to its seventh successive defeat. Since it won the Champions Trophy last September, West Indies has lost 10 of 11 one-dayers.

Sent in, Pakistan was limited to 192 off 44.3 overs, but West Indies was bowled for 133 in 45.2 overs.

Rana Naved chipped in with two early wickets to put the skids under the home team, while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi (two for 28) and Shabbir Ahmed (two for 19) backed up Razzaq's man-of-the-match performance.

Chris Gayle spanked five fours in 22 off 21 deliveries, including three in one over from Rao Iftikhar. But Naved made another decisive strike with a short ball that Gayle miscued. Akmal made good ground on the leg side to grasp a fine catch on the run.

The middle order struggled against disciplined Pakistan bowling on a helpful pitch, and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals to dent West Indies' chances.

Earlier, Pakistan opener Salman Butt top scored with 43, and his team's innings was given a rousing start by Afridi, who hit three boundaries in his 24 off 21 balls.

Butt fell seven runs short of a half-century when he slashed Bravo's medium pace to backward point. The final two matches in the series are in St. Lucia on Saturday and Sunday. — AP

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