Cricket World Cup: Pakistan thrash dismal West Indies

25.MAR.11

Pakistan thrashed West Indies by 10 wickets in Mirpur to secure a World Cup semi-final against India or Australia.

Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal each took two wickets in an over to bowl out the Windies for 112.{{more}}

Afridi claimed 4-30 to reach 21 wickets in the tournament as only Shivnarine Chanderpaul resisted with 44 not out.

Pakistan reached the modest target with 175 balls left, man-of-the-match Hafeez (61) with 10 fours and opening partner Kamran Akmal firing seven fours in 47.

The West Indies collapsed to a debilitating 18-run defeat in their group match against England after losing their final four wickets for three runs and worse followed here, as wickets five to eight went for the addition of just two.

After dismissing Bangladesh for 58, the Shere Bangla ground held good memories for the Windies – aside from the stoning their team bus received from irate home supporters after that match.

But Sulieman Benn, who took 4-18 on that occasion, was left out of the side and after Darren Sammy chose to bat his team proved they were just as susceptible to disintegration batting first as they are when chasing.

Hafeez was brought on for the second over to bowl his off-spinners at dangerman Chris Gayle but the West Indies opener was swiftly dismissed by the seam of Umar Gul.

Gayle had already come down the pitch to hit Gul down the ground for four but in attempting a similar stroke two balls later, drove straight to mid-off – it is now 34 innings since the cavalier made a one-day international century.

However, Hafeez soon made a dramatic impact with Devon Smith and Dwayne Bravo prodding hesitantly forward and dismissed lbw in the sixth over.(BBC)