Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad hit a confident 102 to lead Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday for a 2-0 lead in the five-match, one-day international series.
The 19-year-old Shehzad struck seven fours and a six in 148 balls at Beausejour Stadium as Pakistan reached 223-3 to eclipse the hosts’ total of 220 with two overs remaining.
He shared half-century stands with Mohammad Hafeez, A sad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq. Hafeez scored 32 off 51 balls, Shafiq contributed 23 off 37 while Misbah struck a run-a-ball 43.
“He’s a very, very talented guy,” Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said of Shehzad. “In the World Cup, he didn’t perform well. But we gave him confidence from my side and the team management side and he showed himself that he is capable of performing. He took some time but it was OK since it was only a total of 220 (we were chasing).”
Earlier, Pakistan’s three spinners did the damage to the West Indies’ batting line-up. Saaed Ajmal claimed 2-23, Mohammad Hafeez claimed 2-38 and Afridi picked up 2-41, while left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz chipped in with 2-39.
Opener Lendl Simmons top-scored with 51 off 48 balls but the West Indies lost their way after a brisk start.
The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings with the highest partnership being 36 between Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo for the fifth wicket.
Hafeez struck the first blow for Pakistan when he removed Devon Smith leg before wicket for the second time in the series at 24-1.
Simmons and Darren Bravo added 34 in quick time before Ajmal struck with his first delivery to remove Bravo, who edged low to slip.
Simmons continued to flourish before Afridi struck the killer blow, the Trinidadian opener slapping a drive straight to extra cover to make it 90-3.
Samuels, who scored only three runs in his first 36 balls, eventually contributed 29 but no other batsman could pass 25.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach beefed up the total with 24 off 40 balls in adding 27 for the last wicket with Anthony Martin to push the total past 200.
Shehzad and Hafeez started the Pakistani chase soundly, adding 66 off 110 balls for the first wicket. Devendra Bishoo broke the stand when Hafeez sliced a cut to backward point.
But Shehzad found another solid ally in Shafiq and they put on a further 66 for the second wicket. Shafiq fell to a run out at 133-2, but the West Indies never looked like causing an upset.
Shehzad had two half-chances during his innings. Captain Darren Sammy missed a run out opportunity when the teenager was 30, while Bishoo unable to haul in a difficult catch at deep midwicket off Roach when Shehzad was 76.
Shehzad finally departed with 28 still need, stumped by yards off Bishoo as he tried to finish off in style. But Misbah and Umar Akmal made sure with a flurry of boundaries towards the end.
Pakistan won by eight wickets on Saturday at the same venue. The next match is on Thursday at Bridgetown.
The 19-year-old Shehzad struck seven fours and a six in 148 balls at Beausejour Stadium as Pakistan reached 223-3 to eclipse the hosts’ total of 220 with two overs remaining.
He shared half-century stands with Mohammad Hafeez, A sad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq. Hafeez scored 32 off 51 balls, Shafiq contributed 23 off 37 while Misbah struck a run-a-ball 43.
“He’s a very, very talented guy,” Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said of Shehzad. “In the World Cup, he didn’t perform well. But we gave him confidence from my side and the team management side and he showed himself that he is capable of performing. He took some time but it was OK since it was only a total of 220 (we were chasing).”
Earlier, Pakistan’s three spinners did the damage to the West Indies’ batting line-up. Saaed Ajmal claimed 2-23, Mohammad Hafeez claimed 2-38 and Afridi picked up 2-41, while left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz chipped in with 2-39.
Opener Lendl Simmons top-scored with 51 off 48 balls but the West Indies lost their way after a brisk start.
The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings with the highest partnership being 36 between Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo for the fifth wicket.
Hafeez struck the first blow for Pakistan when he removed Devon Smith leg before wicket for the second time in the series at 24-1.
Simmons and Darren Bravo added 34 in quick time before Ajmal struck with his first delivery to remove Bravo, who edged low to slip.
Simmons continued to flourish before Afridi struck the killer blow, the Trinidadian opener slapping a drive straight to extra cover to make it 90-3.
Samuels, who scored only three runs in his first 36 balls, eventually contributed 29 but no other batsman could pass 25.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach beefed up the total with 24 off 40 balls in adding 27 for the last wicket with Anthony Martin to push the total past 200.
Shehzad and Hafeez started the Pakistani chase soundly, adding 66 off 110 balls for the first wicket. Devendra Bishoo broke the stand when Hafeez sliced a cut to backward point.
But Shehzad found another solid ally in Shafiq and they put on a further 66 for the second wicket. Shafiq fell to a run out at 133-2, but the West Indies never looked like causing an upset.
Shehzad had two half-chances during his innings. Captain Darren Sammy missed a run out opportunity when the teenager was 30, while Bishoo unable to haul in a difficult catch at deep midwicket off Roach when Shehzad was 76.
Shehzad finally departed with 28 still need, stumped by yards off Bishoo as he tried to finish off in style. But Misbah and Umar Akmal made sure with a flurry of boundaries towards the end.
Pakistan won by eight wickets on Saturday at the same venue. The next match is on Thursday at Bridgetown.
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