Pakistanis won by 68 runs

Pakistanis won by 68 runs

University of WI vice-chancellor's XI v Pakistanis, tour game, St Lucia

Hafeez, Rehman star in convincing win

ESPNcricinfo staff

April 19, 2011

Pakistan made a winning start to their tour of West Indies, as stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez's ton and Abdul Rehman's four-wicket haul steered them to a comfortable 68-run victory against University of West Indies vice-chancellor's XI.

Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan chose to bat, and immediately benefited from the hosts' generosity. Hafeez was dropped in the first over by Keron Cottoy, off the bowling of Fidel Edwards. Hafeez made the home side pay, slamming ten fours and two sixes in his 93-ball 101 , before retiring out. He was supported well by opening partner Taufeeq Umar, who dominated the 77-run first-wicket stand with a score of 44 before becoming the first of three Carlos Brathwaite victims.

Ahmed Shehzad took over where Taufeeq left, contributing 49 to a 130-run stand as Hafeez shifted gears. Umar Akmal went after the bowling in the end overs, carting eight fours and a six in his aggressive unbeaten 57. His flurry lifted the Pakistanis to a strong total of 287 for 7. Dwayne Bravo had a forgettable time with the ball, leaking 69 runs in his eight-over spell.

Miles Bascombe and Omar Phillips began the chase well, adding 40 for the opening wicket, before wickets began to tumble. The seam trio of Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz struck once each to reduce the hosts to 75 for 3 before Nkruma Bonner and Bravo began a repair job. They added 48 for the fourth wicket after which Rehman began to make incisions.

Bonner's dismissal for 43 triggered a mini-collapse as 123 for 3 became 146 for 6 in quick time. Bravo scored a breezy 63 off 70 balls and showed little evidence of the injury that curtailed his participation in World Cup. He hit four fours and two sixes before holing out against Rehman. Kevin McLean and Cottoy added an unbroken 39 for the ninth wicket to reduce the margin of defeat, but Pakistan still won the game by 68 runs.

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NZC XI v Pakistanis, Tour game, Whangarei,2nd day

Misbah shines but Pakistanis stumble

Pakistanis 234 for 8 (Misbah 99*, Vettori 3-26, Marin 3-52) trail NZC XI 384 all out (McCullum 206, Tanvir 4-63, Gul 3-61) by 150 runs

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, defied
 the New Zealand bowlers with an unbeaten 99 © Getty Images

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was rested for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, picked up three wickets on the second day of the tour game against the Pakistanis, who were struggling in Whangarei despite captain Misbah-ul-Haq's unbeaten 99. New Zealand, who ended the first day on a comfortable 342 for 4, collapsed to 384 all out on the second morning. Fast bowlers Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, who shared seven wickets between them, ran through the New Zealand middle and lower order as New Zealand lost 6 for 42.

The Pakistani innings got off to a disastrous start as Chris Martin's early burst left them reeling at 22 for 3 after seven overs. Mohammad Hafeez was the first to go, caught behind off Martin in the first over before Taufeeq Umar was dismissed similarly in Martin's next over. Younis Khan soon followed, also caught behind for 7.

At 39 for 4, when Azhar Ali was trapped lbw by Trent Boult, a familiar Pakistani batting collapse looked imminent but it was avoided through Misbah's efforts. He had a solid first Test series as captain, scoring three-half-centuries in two matches against South Africa and he continued to be in good touch. He and Asad Shafiq steadied the innings with a 52-run fourth-wicket partnership before Shafiq was dismissed by Vettori.

That brought wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal to the crease, who played positively, hitting seven boundaries in his 31-ball 35. His partnership of 57 with Misbah carried Pakistan to 148 before he was dismissed by James Franklin. Misbah also received good support from Abdur Rehman (20) and Umar Gul (24), as the Pakistani lower order showed some fight. Vettori dismissed both Rehman and Gul and Pakistan ended the day on 234 for 8, still trailing New Zealand by 150 runs with Misbah unbeaten on 99.

The first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand begins in Hamilton on January 7 and while the visitors will be pleased at how their bowlers bounced back on the second day, the indifferent form of their batting will be a worry.