CASTRIES (St Lucia), April 5: Pakistan made a winning start in the World Double-Wicket Cricket Championship when they defeated Zimbabwe in the US$175,000 International Cricket Council sanctioned tournament at Beausejour Stadium here on Friday.

Shahid Afridi, thumping 11 sixes and four fours in scoring 73, a 20-run deduction because he was out twice, and Wasim Akram (29) powered Pakistan (107) to a 64-run victory over the Zimbabwean pair of Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall who totalled 43.

Earlier, West Indies defeated England and Australia won against South Africa in the other two matches.

Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle carried West Indies to a seven-run victory over the Englishmen, to join Australia and Pakistan as early winners in the tournament.

Batting first, West Indies scored 39 off their eight overs, to which England — Adam Hollioake and Andrew Flintoff — replied with 32.

South Africa, represented by Steve Elworthy and Allan Donald, suffered from the format of a 10-run deduction each time a wicket falls, and registered a minus-10 score to lose by 37 runs to Australia.

Greg Blewett and John Davison, who appeared for Canada at the World Cup, carried Australia to victory with a score of 27.

West Indies, England, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan are contesting Group ‘A’, and Group ‘B’ has Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, with the final set for Sunday.

Fielders for the tournament have been drawn from the Windwards and Leeward Islands, with West Indies wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs, and Andy Flower of Zimbabwe, are wearing the gloves.—PPI