Agence France Presse

Brisbane, January 19:

Pakistan’s game plan paid off when they defeated the West Indies by six wickets in their tri-series one-day cricket match at Brisbane’s Gabba ground. Inspired by a flawless 124 from wicketkeeper turned opener Kamran Akmal, Pakistan reached the 274 runs needed for victory with the loss of just four wickets and three overs to spare, for their first victory in the competition which also includes Australia.

The win was achieved without key paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who went off with a suspected torn hamstring after bowling just 2.5 overs. Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had hoped to win the toss and use Shoaib to put early pressure on the West Indian batsmen, in what were expected to be humid conditions. Conditions offered the bowlers far less swing than expected and the West Indies reached a total of 273 for 5.

Pakistan lost Salman Butt for 10 and Mohammad Hafeez (2) to be 35-2 in the eighth over.

But they fought back through Kamran and Shoaib Malik, who scored a run-a-ball 60.

Inzamam’s return to form continued. He added an unbeaten 62 to the 68 he made in the tourists’ opening tri-series match against Australia in Hobart on Sunday. For West Indies, yet to record a win in the competition, the return to the opening position of Chris Gayle with 82 was a welcome sign but there was a downside.

SCOREBOARD:

West Indies

C Gayle c Malik b Razzaq 82

W Hinds c Butt b Hafeez 29

R Sarwan c Naved b Mahmood 76

B Lara c Hafeez b Naved 39

R Powell c Kamran b Naved 0

S Chanderpaul not out 25

Extras: 22 (1b, 9w, 5nb)

Total: 273/5 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-86, 2-149, 3-209, 4-211, 5-273.

Pakistan Bowling: S Akhtar 2.5-0-7-0, R Naved 10-0-55-2, A Mahmood 9.1-1-57-1, S Afridi 10-0-39-0, M Hafeez 10-0-54-1, A Razzaq 7-0-43-1, S Butt 1-0-10-0

Pakistan

K Akmal c Lara b B’shaw 124

S Butt b Dillon 10

M Hafeez c Gayle b Dillon 2

S Malik c Browne b B’shaw 60

Inzamam not out 62

Y Youhana not out 9

Extras: 7 (1lb, 3w, 3nb)

Total: 274/4 (47overs)

FoW: 1-28, 2-36, 3-159, 4-239

West Indies Bowling: P Collins 10-0-50-0, I Bradshaw 10-0-49-2, M Dillon 10-0-46-2, M Samuels 9-0-72-0, R Sarwan 5-0-31-0, W Hinds 3-0-25-0