November 13, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1429

ABU DHABI, Nov 12: Kamran Akmal hit two sixes in paceman Jerome Taylor’s last over to help Pakistan beat the West Indies by four wickets in a dramatic finish to the first day-night international here on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting 295, Pakistan needed a tough 17 off the 50th over, but Akmal hit the second and third ball for sixes to give his team an unexpected win with a nine-ball 24 not out to overshadow Chris Gayle’s brilliant century.

Gayle notched a 106-ball 113 to power his team to a challenging 294-9 in their 50 overs. Paceman Lionel Baker (3-47) nearly derailed Pakistan before Akmal and Fawad Alam (26 not out) changed the script.

Akmal walked in at the fall of captain Shoaib Malik’s wicket whose enterprising 50-ball 66 nearly ended in vain but Akmal and Alam notched 33 needed off the last three overs to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The second match will be played on Friday.

Besides Malik, opener Khurrum Manzoor scored a 89-ball 69 in his second one-day international while the experienced Younus Khan made a 62-ball 56.

Manzoor and Salman Butt (24) gave Pakistan a solid start of 64 before Baker bowled Butt who played on to a short delivery. Manzoor added 78 for the second wicket with Younus before Pakistan lost two quick wickets.

The West Indies were indebted to Gayle who scored his 17th one-day century and put his team a solid footing with a 125-run opening stand with Sewnarine Chattergoon (33) after winning the toss and electing to bat. Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul also punished the Pakistan bowling.—AFP