The West Indies beat Pakistan by 58 runs in their crucial tri-series one-day cricket international at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Friday.
The West Indies, inspired by a dazzling 156 from captain Brian Lara, set a ground-record 339 for four, with Pakistan managing 281 for nine in reply.
Together with lefthander Sivnarine Chanderpaul, Lara formed a 187-run partnership, just eight runs short of the greatest third-wicket stand to date for the West Indies — Gordon Greenidge and Larry Gomes put on 195 against Zimbabwe in 1983.
Playing in his 250th limited-overs international, it was Lara’s fifth century in one-day matches against Pakistan, coming off 138 balls as he smacked five sixes and 12 fours.
For Pakistan, all-rounders Yousuf Youhana and Abdul Razzaq were the top-scorers with 45 and 44 respectively, but it was too little too late.
The match had been a sudden-death affair for the West Indies, who were without a win so far in the series and are vying with Pakistan for a place in the best-of-three finals against Australia, who have already secured their berth.
Pakistan now play Australia in Perth on Sunday but their return match against the West Indies on Tuesday will decide who will play the host nation. — Sapa-AFP