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Pakistan draw series with emphatic victory
May 27, 2011
Pakistan's spinners completed the job they had begun on the fourth afternoon, slicing through the West Indian middle order and tail to secure a series-levelling victory by 196 runs in St Kitts. Once the morning dawned sunny and clear, it was only a matter of time before West Indies capitulated. They battled for 27.3 overs this morning and added 100 runs, but they were always fighting against the tide. It was over before lunch at Warner Park.
With the luxury of lots of runs to defend, Misbah-ul-Haq placed several fielders around the bat. The first edge came in the day's third over, with Brendan Nash poking at an offbreak from Saeed Ajmal and watching first slip take a regulation chance.
Carlton Baugh and Darren Sammy had a partnership that spanned ten overs, far too little time to call it a fightback. That ended when Baugh was trapped plumb in front by Abdur Rehman, who had to wait for the third umpire to overturn Asoka de Silva's not-out decision to celebrate his fourth wicket. Sammy hung in there for 41, off 51 balls, while Ravi Rampaul swung lustily to take 20 off 22. Saeed Ajmal got them both - Sammy to a daft shot, Rampaul to a sharp reflex catch at silly point.
With lunch approaching, Pakistan had only one wicket left to take. Devendra Bishoo then played the ball to backward point and kept his eyes on it. Kemar Roach hared down the pitch, and then turned and ambled back. The direct hit found him yards short and he began to shake hands with the fielders without waiting for the third umpire's decision. Pakistan's comeback was complete.
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