KINGSTOWN – West Indies failed to reprise their standing of world Twenty20 champions, as they followed up careless batting with inconsistent bowling, allowing newcomer Umar Amin and veteran Shahid Afridi to usher Pakistan to a two-wicket victory here yesterday.
Shannon Gabriel was the most successful West Indies bowler with three wickets in his four overs, but he leaked 44 runs as the Pakistanis, led by Amin with 47 and Afridi with 46, held their nerve in the closing stages to overtake a target of 153 in the first T20 International on a slow Arnos Vale Sports Complex pitch.
Gabriel conceded ten in the penultimate over, but he also removed Man Of The Match Afridi caught at long on from the second legal delivery to leave the match on a knife’s edge.
Marlon Samuels, bowling his off spin darts, was given the responsibility of the final over and Zulfiqar Babar, playing his first international for the visitors, lofted the first delivery over extra cover for four to leave Pakistan needing two from the last five balls. (JG)
