Pakistan beat West Indies by six wickets in fourth ODI

BEAUSEJOUR, St.Lucia,  CMC – A responsible knock by captain Misbah Ul-Haq and a fluent half century by Mohammad Hafeez piloted Pakistan to a six wicket win over West Indies by the Duckworth Lewis method despite a brilliant unbeaten hundred by Man of the Match Marlon Samuels.

Hafeez struck 59 with five fours and two sixes off 62 balls and Ul-Haq was undefeated on 53 with three fours and one six off 43 balls as Pakistan reached a revised target of 189 off 39 overs with six balls to spare.

Umar Akmal was undefeated on 29 and put on 45 with his captain for  an unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

The match started as a 49 over affair and was further reduced when rain intervened for the second time after Pakistan reached 68 for two off 17 overs chasing a target of 262.

When play resumed after the break the Pakistanis required a further 121 off 14 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Earlier, Marlon Samuels started cautiously and later blossomed  as his innings progressed to stroke a masterful 106 not out to steer the west Indies to a competitive 261 for seven off 49 overs.

The stylish Jamaican struck  nine fours and four sixes in 151 minutes off 104 balls. It was his fifth One day International hundred and second against Pakistan.

He featured in a  fifth wicket partnership of  95 with in form Lendl Simmons who hit 46 off 44 balls with  five fours and one six.

Samuels was also involved in a 57 run partnership  for the fourth wicket with Chris Gayle who contributed 30 batting down the order at number five.

The other major knock in the West Indies innings came from opener Johnson Charles whose 32 came off 48 balls laced with five boundaries.

Tall Pakistani opening bowler Mohammad Irfan with the wickets of opener Devon Smith and Darren Sammy had the best returns for his team with two for 60 from 10 overs.