Centurion Malik, Hafeez lead Pakistan to ODI series win

KARACHI: A sublime Shoaib Malik century and equally responsible knock from Mohammad Hafeez inspired Pakistan to a six-wicket win in the third and final one-day against the West Indies at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana, on Tuesday. Pakistan also clinched the series 2-1.

Chasing 234, Pakistan were reeling at 36-3 when Malik joined Hafeez in a decisive partnership of 113 in 128 balls to tilt the balance in favour of the tourists, who protected their 26-year unbeaten streak against the West Indies and also remained eighth in the ICC team rankings.

Man of the match Malik ended the game in style by completing a ninth ODI hundred by hoisting West Indies captain Jason Holder for a six. Malik’s 111-ball effort included 10 fours and two sixes.

Hafeez scored 81 off 86 balls with eight fours and two sixes after the in-form Babar Azam was among three casualties upfront, edging Shannon Gabriel on to the stumps for 16. Earlier Kamran Akmal scooped a catch to covers on the first ball of the chase and Ahmed Shehzad was brilliantly held low to his right by Shai Hope. It was then left to Malik and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (24) to see Pakistan home with 41 balls left in an unbroken stand of 87.

Earlier, Shai Hope and Jason Mohammed lifted the home side to 233-9 after Holder won his third successive toss, but unlike the opening two fixtures opted to bat first after the start was momentarily delayed by a passing shower.

Hope and Mohammed, who both hit half-centuries, put on 101 after West Indies had slipped to 68-3 in the 19th over. Hope compiled 71 from 112 balls while striking one boundary and two sixes. Mohammed was more enterprising, making 59 off 64 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.

Imad Wasim was easily the pick of the bowlers with 1-24 in 10 overs, while Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan claimed two wickets each.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

E. Lewis c Hafeez b Junaid 16

C.A.K. Walton b Hasan 19

K.O.A. Powell st Sarfraz b Imad 23

S.D. Hope c Malik b Shadab 71

J.N. Mohammed c Sarfraz b Junaid 59

J.L. Carter b Shadab 11

J.O. Holder c Shadab b Amir 12

A.R. Nurse not out 10

V. Permaul c Hafeez b Amir 8

D. Bishoo run out 0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 233

FALL OF WKTS: 1-31, 2-40, 3-68, 4-169, 5-192, 6-211, 7-219, 8-231, 9-233.

DID NOT BAT: S.T. Gabriel.

BOWLING: Mohammad Amir 9-0-41-2; Junaid Khan 10-0-60-2 (1w); Hasan Ali 6-1-29-1; Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-21-0 (1w); Imad Wasim 10-2-24-1; Shadab Khan 8-0-57-2 (1w).

PAKISTAN:

Kamran Akmal c Powell b Gabriel 0

Ahmed Shehzad c Hope b Holder 3

Babar Azam b Gabriel 16

Mohammad Hafeez c Permaul b Nurse 81

Shoaib Malik not out 101

Sarfraz Ahmed not out 24

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-4, W-2, NB-1) 11

TOTAL (for four wkts, 43.1 overs) 236

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-16, 3-36, 4-149.

DID NOT BAT: Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan.

BOWLING: Gabriel 10-0-60-2 (1nb, 1w); Holder 8.1-1-37-1 (1w); Bishoo 10-1-42-0 (1w); Permaul 4-0-31-0; Nurse 10-0-49-1; Mohammed 1-0-10-0.