2nd ODI: Shehzad century take up Pakistan to win

GROS ISLET : Opener Ahmed Shehzad struck his second one-day international hundred to anchor Pakistan to a sure seven-wicket win over West Indies.


Shehzad hit seven fours and one six in his 102 from 148 balls as Pakistan effectively chase 221 for victory in the second ODI at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Umar Akmal passed the visitors over the doorstep with 12 balls remaining when he lost a delivery from Dwayne Bravo to long-off for the final boundary of the match. The result earnings that Pakistan take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first game by eight wickets on Saturday at the same ground.

Pakistan has now won their last seven ODIs next to West Indies, a sequence extend over the last four years. "We complete a plan at our team meeting and our guys wedged to it and that was good," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"Shehzad is a very brilliant guy and he show that he is competent of drama. He took his time, but chases a small total, he could afford to do that and we won the game.

"I think our bowlers are doing a great job, and the fielding has better because it is a very important area for us. Our batting has shown liability and we hope to maintain this regulation right all through the series."

The visitors' spin bowling trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Afridi had conquered on another passive pitch. After Pakistan chose to field, West Indies were dismissing for 220 in their 50 overs - one less than the total they made in the first ODI.

Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi public six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs among them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to receiving on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which built-in four fours and two sixes.

"We didn't make use of the key moment in the match," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. "We could have tried to wring their batsmen more and when we bat we got a good start, but did not capitalize on it.

"The spinners carry on swamping us down, and we could have got a lot more on the board. It seems that whatever approach we have taken, we seem only able to get the same brand of total on the board. We have a lot more work to do."

Shehzad shared three succeeding half-century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq that put Pakistan resolutely on course for their victory.

He glance a delivery in the 44th over from Dwayne Bravo to bottomless fine leg for a single to reach his milestone from 143 balls.

"We try to keep wickets in hand. It was not a huge total so I knew that I had to manage my stroke-play and not get approved away," said Shehzad.

He was fortunate on 30 when he came close to being run out after pulling a release from Bravo to mid-wicket and Hafeez twisted down the chance of going for a single.Sammy fired his throw from mid-wicket wide of the stump and the opener was clever to regain his ground.

By the time he become the second wicket for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 46th over, Pakistan necessary just 30 from the final 28 deliveries which came with little problem.

The third and fourth matches of the series will be played on Thursday and Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final game coming three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

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