SAINT LUCIA: Pakistan beat West Indies by four wickets in the fifth and final One Day International at St Lucia and also clinched the five match series by 3-1.
Misbahul Haq was declared both man of the match and man of the series.He scored 63 as the tourists reach the winning target with one ball to spare at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet.
Pakistan finished on 243 for six wickets after chasing down West Indies score of 242 for seven, unleashing joyous celebrations in the sparsely attended stadium.
“It is very satisfying after losses in the Champions Trophy and after losing the series in South Africa earlier this year; this was a much needed win for us,” Misbah told the post-match presentation, where he was also named man of the series.
A dramatic ending was almost thwarted by a sudden rain storm when Pakistan were 17 runs shy with 14 balls remaining, and had just lost Umar Akmal, needlessly out after a blistering 37 off 28 balls.
But after a brief delay, during which the players went off and the covers came on, Misbah returned with Shahid Afridi to finish off the job.
The outcome might have much different had Misbah been given out when West Indies reviewed a contentious decision by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel to turn down a catch claimed off Misbah’s gloves when the score was 190-4.
Television replays were deemed inconclusive but the aggrieved West Indies reacted angrily with bowler Tino Best facing a possible fine over his conduct after a heated exchange with the umpire.
While Misbah was the catalyst for the win, opener Ahmed Shehzad laid the foundation with the game’s top score of 64.
Earlier, West Indies needed another late cameo of lusty blows to unshackle a stranglehold placed on them by Pakistan’s bowlers, of whom Junaid Khan was the best.
Captain Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy smashed their way to a 53-run partnership in just five overs near the end of the home team’s innings to take West Indies to a respectable 242. Bravo top scored for them with 48.
Opener Johnson Charles led a charmed existence before finally falling for 43 while Marlon Samuels scored 45 but both were laboured at times as they found the bowlers difficult to get away.
The two countries now play two Twenty20 internationals at Kingstown, capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines, on Saturday and Sunday.
