West Indies beat Pakistan to level final

Karachi, April 22: Pakistan's fragile batting was exposed yet again when the West Indies carved out a 60-run victory at Barbados to draw the best-of-three finals at one-all.

Chasing 209 for victory, Pakistan capsized from 72 for one to 148 in 45 overs with part-time spinners Jimmy Adams and Chris Gayle sharing five wickets between them.

But it was Reon King who picked up scalps of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana in front of the wickets off successive deliveries to start the collapse.

The departure of Younis Khan (31), who was one of the four batsmen to be adjudged leg before, was final nail in Pakistan's coffin. Waqar Younis's 21 at No 9 gave some respectability to Pakistan's innings. Both the teams meet again at the same venue on Sunday in the triangular series decider.

Port-Of-Spain (Trinidad), April 22: Opener Sherwin Campbell hit a gutsy 77 as West Indies set Pakistan a challenging target of 209 in the second final of the triangular one-day series at the Queen's Park Oval here on Saturday.

On a sluggish pitch, the asking rate of 4.18 an over could be tough for Pakistan, who lead 1-0 in the three-match finals, unless their batsmen put up a determined performance.

The Pakistan bowlers bowled a nagging length to restrict the West Indies to 208 for eight in 50 overs after Jimmy Adams won the toss and decided to bat.

Wasim Akram picked up an early wicket when he trapped Philo Wallace in front of the stumps for eight in only the third over of the West Indian innings.

Both Wasim and his pace partner Waqar Younis bowled with accuracy to concede just 21 and 17 runs respectively in their opening spells of seven and six overs.

Later Mushtaq Ahmed and Abdur Razzaq, barring occasional loose deliveries, were in control with their nagging accuracy, backed up by extraordinary sharp fielding.

The highest partnership in the West Indian innings was provided by Campbell and the left-handed Wavell Hinds, who combined to add 58 for the second wicket in almost 17 overs.

Not for the first time, Hinds was unable to read Mushtaq but managed to unleash two fours off leg-spinner's wayward deliveries. He was a victim of a spectacular one-handed catch at point by a diving Shahid Afridi off Abdur Razzaq. Hinds made 24.

Adams, in quest for quick singles, was smartly run out by Moin Khan for five to make West Indies 84 for three.

West Indies reached 100 in 32.1 overs and not much later, Campbell became the 10th West Indian to score 2,000 runs in One-day Internationals with his 48th run.

Campbell, the West Indian vice-captain, was involved in another useful partnership of 50 for the fourth wicket with Chris Gayle, who was run out by a brilliant throw from Mushtaq from long-off for 33.

Ricardo Powell pulled a six over mid-wicket off Abdur Razzaq, but after scoring 21 off 23 balls, he was held at wide mid-off by Arshad Khan.

Campbell then holed out after making 77 off 127 deliveries with Waqar Younis running in from long leg took a difficult catch off Wasim Akram. The opener struck seven boundaries. His dismissal at 189 in the 47th over was vital for Pakistan.

Franklyn Rose perished in the slogging overs to a fine catch by Abdur Razzaq, who ran in from long-off to provide Wasim Akram his third wicket of the innings.

Wasim, by far was the best bowler as he gave away only 34 runs in ten overs. Abdur Razzaq claimed two for 42 and Afridi one for 36. Mushtaq, though wicketless, was tidy with figures of none for 34 in 10 overs.