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MELBOURNE, Jan 19: Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal scored his maiden century in limited-overs internationals to guide Pakistan to a six-wicket win in their triangular series match against West Indies on Wednesday.
Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan hit half-centuries to lift West Indies to 273 for five wickets in their 50 overs. Pakistan reached 274 for four in reply, including Akmal's 124, to win with three overs to spare at the Gabba ground in Brisbane.
Pakistan had been 36 for two in eight overs after Mervyn Dillon (2-46) struck twice, removing opener Salman Butt for 10 and Mohammad Hafeez for two. The 23-year-old Akmal, who has 15 one-day caps, shared a 123-run partnership for the third wicket with Shoaib Malik (60).
Man-of-the-Match Akmal faced 125 balls, hitting 12 fours before he was caught at cover off the bowling of Ian Bradshaw at the start of the 41st over. Akmal had put on 80 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Inzamamul Haq, whose unbeaten 62 from 51 balls followed his 68 in Pakistan's four-wicket loss to Australia in Hobart last week.
It was Pakistan's first international win on their tour of Australia, after losing all three tests in the series which finished earlier this month. Pakistan began the match in disarray when pace man Shoaib Akhtar left the field without completing his third over after breaking down a hamstring injury.
Gayle survived difficult batting conditions early in the morning session for West Indies to hit seven fours in his 99-ball knock of 82, adding 86 for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds (29).
Coming in at 149 for two in the 34th over, West Indies captain Brian Lara had the perfect stage for a big innings. However, the brilliant left-hander fell on 39, slicing a short ball to gully after facing 30 balls and stroking six fours.
Rana Navedul Hasan (2-55) struck again two balls later, removing Ricardo Powell for a first-ball duck. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (25 not out) and Sarwan (76) then contributed a half-century partnership for the fifth wicket.
With all three sides having played two matches each, undefeated Australia lead the standings with 11 points ahead of Pakistan (six) and West Indies (one). Australia host West Indies in Brisbane on Friday.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES
C. Gayle c Shoaib Malik b Razzaq 82
W. Hinds c Salman Butt b M. Hafeez 29
R. Sarwan c Naved b Azhar 76
B. Lara c M. Hafeez b Naved 39
R. Powell c Kamran b Naved 0
S. Chanderpaul not out 25
Extras: (1b, 9w, 5nb) 22
Total: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 273
Fall of wkts: 1-86, 2-149, 3-209, 4-211, 5-273.
Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 2.5-0-7-0(5w), Naved-ul-Hasan 10-0-55-2(1nb, 3w), Azhar Mahmood 9.1-1-57-1(1nb, 1w), Shahid Afridi 10-0-39-0, Mohammad Hafeez 10-0-54-1, Abdul Razzaq 7-0-43-1(2nb), Salman Butt 1-0-10-0(1nb).
Did Not Bat: M. Samuels, C. Browne, I. Bradshaw, M. Dillon, P. Collins
PAKISTAN
Kamran Akmal c Lara b Bradshaw 124
Salman Butt b Dillon 10
Mohammad Hafeez c Gayle b Dillon 2
Shoaib Malik c Browne b Bradshaw 60
Inzamamul Haq not out 62
Yousuf Youhana not out 9
Extras: (1lb, 3w, 3nb) 7
Total: (4 wkts, 47overs) 274
Fall of wkts: 1-28, 2-36, 3-159, 4-239.
Bowling: P. Collins 10-0-50-0 (3nb 1w), I. Bradshaw 10-0-49-2 (1w), M. Dillon 10-0-46-2, M. Samuels 9-0-72-0, R. Sarwan 5-0-31-0 (1w), W. Hinds 3-0-25-0.
Toss: Pakistan
Man-of-the-Match: Kamran Akmal.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA), Peter Parker (AUS). - AFP
