Kamran Akmal hit successive sixes in the final over as Pakistan scored a thrilling four-wicket win over West Indies with one ball to spare in the first of three one-day internationals (ODIs) on Wednesday.
Replying to West Indies’ impressive 294-9, built around a spectacular century by captain Chris Gayle — the first three-figure knock at Zayed Stadium — Pakistan reached the target on the penultimate ball.
Needing 16 runs in the final over, Akmal hit two sixes off the first two deliveries from fast bowler Jerome Taylor to script a stunning win.
Akmal remained unbeaten on 24 from just nine balls, and Fawad Alam was not out on 26.
Captain Shoaib Malik also played a huge role, scoring 66 off 50 balls. He came in at the fall of the third wicket in the 33rd over with Pakistan at 159. The asking rate at that stage was more than 7,5 runs per over.
”I am very happy with the way we played despite our lack of international matches in recent times,” Malik said. ”Winning the first match is always crucial when you want to win the series, so I am happy we have got off to a good start.”
Gayle was named the man of the match for his whirlwind 113, with five sixes and 11 fours in just 106 balls.
”Pakistan paced their innings very well,” Gayle said. ”It is just one of those things in cricket, and we are now determined to do better and win the second match.”
Opener Khurram Manzoor top-scored with 69 in 89 balls. He enjoyed a 64-run opening stand with Salman Butt (24). Younis Khan chipped in with 56 runs in 62 balls.
Debut quickie Lionel Baker was the pick of West Indies’ bowling, picking up 3-41. The Leeward Islands bowler was slightly short of length and just outside the off stump, cramping most of the Pakistanis.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Gayle’s 113 helped his side rack a formidable total. The previous highest score in Abu Dhabi was 92 by India’s Rahul Dravid against Pakistan.
After a slow start of 11 runs in the first five overs, Gayle went into overdrive, hitting Abdur Rauf, who was filling in for the injured Shoaib Akhtar, for 11 runs in his third over and 17 in his fourth, which included four hits to the fence.
Malik then introduced Umar Gul, but Gayle dispatched him for two successive sixes to bring up his side’s 50 in the 10th over.
Gayle’s 50 came in just 36 balls and his 100 in 90. He helped to tally 125 runs for the first wicket with Sewnarine Chattergoon (33), who holed out to mid-on when Malik brought himself on as second change bowler in the 18th over, with the third powerplay still on.
Gayle added 73 runs for the second wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (55). He was finally caught when he mistimed a pull off Gul to Shahid Afridi at mid-wicket. Two balls before that, Gul dropped an easy catch off his own bowling.
Pakistan did well to contain West Indies, who were 213-2 after 37 overs. Paceman Sohail Tanveer and Gul were the most successful bowlers.
Tanveer took 3-66 in his 10 overs.
The remaining two matches are on Friday and Sunday. — Sapa-AP