CASTRIES – A century by stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez and a four-wicket haul by Abdur Rehman steered Pakistan to a comfortable 68-run victory over the UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI, as the tourists made a winning start to their tour yesterday.
The right-handed opener hammered 101 before retiring as Pakistan, winning the toss and batting, reached 287 for seven off their allotted 50 overs at the Mindoo Phillip Park.
In response, West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo flayed 63 from 70 balls but the Vice Chancellor’s XI came up short at 219 for eight.Hafeez, who had the good fortune of being dropped at backward point by Keron Cottoy in the day’s first over bowled by fast bowler Fidel Edwards, took full advantage of his let-off to register 10 boundaries and two sixes off 93 balls.
He shared an opening stand of 77 with Taufeeq Umar (44) and then added a further 130 for the second wicket with Ahmed Shehzad (49), before retiring on reaching his hundred.Exciting 20-year-old right-hander Umar Akmal lived up to his high billing, entertaining the modest crowd with a flurry of boundaries in contributing an unbeaten 57 laced with eight fours and one six.
Seamer Carlos Brathwaite claimed three for 38 while leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner finished with two for 25.Miles Bascombe (26) and captain Omar Phillips added 40 for the first wicket before wickets tumbled to lead the Vice Chancellor’s XI on 75 for three.
Bravo and Bonner, who cracked 43, posted 48 for the fourth wicket to revive the innings.
The right-handed Bravo, showing little evidence of the injury that forced him to return home from the recent World Cup, struck four fours and two sixes to offer his side hope.
However, he perished to a catch by Junaid Khan running in off the boundary, as he attemped another six over long off.
Bonner followed soon after, also caught in the deep and thereafter only Kevin McClean with 23 not out showed any resistance as the innings petered out tamely.
Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman finished with the impressive figures of four for 27 from 10 overs. (CMC)
