Kingston: The West Indies' 54-run victory in the opening game of the World Cup at Sabina Park on Tuesday was significant on many levels.

The first, and the most obvious, is that the two points the host won will be carried into the Super 8 phase, assuming of course that the West Indies and Pakistan go through. The Super 8 is rightly expected to be `dog-eat-dog' as any edge gained would be crucial.

The second is that the West Indies prevailed despite Inzamam-ul-Haq's luck with the toss ensuring Pakistan had the best of the conditions in both innings. The 9.30 a.m. start didn't allow the sun a fair crack at drying the morning moisture.

"We were going to bowl as well," said West Indies captain Brian Lara. "In the first fifteen overs, you saw the ball dancing around."

The sun baked the track through the West Indies innings. Consequently, as Inzamam pointed out, ball came on to bat, facilitating stroke-play during Pakistan's turn with the willow.

The West Indies overcame this disadvantage with skill and a dash of fortune. Had Younis Khan not dropped Ramnaresh Sarwan on 0, things could have been different.

Then, Marlon Samuels played a knock of the highest quality.

"The way Samuels batted was crucial," said Lara. "We were wondering who was going to start the innings, and he did by taking on Rao (Iftikhar)."

Good batting

Dwayne Smith, later declared the `Man of the Match', came in with the West Indies at 183 for six and bullied the bowlers to stretch a potential total of 225 to 241.

"To hit 30-odd runs of 14-15 balls is tremendous. We were looking at taking it to 45 overs, and planning the last 30 balls. That's why we sent Dwayne after wicketkeeper Ramdin. We don't have many big hitters down the order but for Dwayne," said Lara

The West Indies bowlers were admirably disciplined and didn't bowl a single no ball! Daren Powell used his muscular action to raise bounce, while Smith dragged his fingers down the ball to produce cut.

Collymore's good spell

Corey Collymore bowled a spell of great control, shackling Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam. These two fine batsmen soaked up an inordinate number of balls for their runs.

Granted the bowling was tight, the fielding intense, but couldn't they have stepped it up?

"I thought if we had wickets in hand, the way the pitch was playing, seven or eight runs per over towards the end wouldn't be tough," explained Inzamam. "We just wanted to stay at the wicket, stretch the match into the final overs."

But, Inzamam and Yousuf allowed the asking rate to climb to six runs per over — it was less than five at the start of the innings — as early as the 21st over. Lara shrewdly kept his seamers on, lulling the batsmen into a pattern.

"They didn't look like they were getting hold of the medium pacers. I was waiting for that to turn to the experience of a Gayle," said Lara. "Also the straight boundaries are short."

Smith dismissed both Yousuf and Inzamam. The new men barring Shoaib Malik couldn't cope with an asking rate that was mounting.

Malik stirred the heart by refusing to give up, but he could do only so much with the tail.

Inzamam concerned

"I'm definitely concerned," said Inzamam. "Batting is our stronger suit, and we failed because of it. The bowlers did marvellously well to restrict them to 241.

It was `chaseable'. But we lost those early three wickets. And the experienced middle-order needs to take responsibility."

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the West Indies win was the fielding, and the effect it had on the crowd. Where Pakistan had been sloppy, the host was excellent.

Often, either Yousuf or Inzamam struck a cunning ball only to find four reduced to one by elastic strides and `dead-eye' throws.

Dwayne Bravo's `windmilling' celebration, to go with his aeroplane version, after a spectacular take at point lifted the crowd.

"You have to be out there to believe it," said Lara, who led his men in a victory lap.

"I've never seen Sabina Park like this before. It's a wonderful atmosphere. I hope they continue coming out and showing their patriotism."

Gayle's distinction

Agencies add:

Chris Gayle became the first batsman to face the very first ball of a World Cup on two occasions.

In the 2003 edition, he had faced the first ball off Shaun Pollock (South Africa). He has made just two on both occasions!

Tuesday's inaugural match of the 2007 World Cup was the 1000th One Day International of the decade.

For the first time in ODIs, both the captains (Brian Lara and Inzamam-ul-Haq) had over 10,000 runs to their individual credit.

Marlon Samuels's 63 is the lowest amongst the highest individual scores in an inaugural WC game, beating England's Alec Stewart's 88 in 1999.

West Indies' 54-run win is its 32nd in 49 matches, and the sixth in eight games against Pakistan, in World Cup. Pakistan, in 54 World Cup games, has lost 23 and won 29.

Pakistan's last win over a Test-playing country in a World Cup game was against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1999. In the 2003 WC, its wins were against Namibia and the Netherlands.

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