Some excellent all around performances from Andre Russell, who bagged three wickets for 33 runs from eight overs and scored 42 runs from 13 balls which included three fours and four sixes. West Indies scored 310 runs for six wickets off 50 overs after they were sent in to bat.
Darren Bravo scored 49 before he retired hurt, Denesh Ramdin 51 runs from 43 balls, Darren Sammy 30 from 28 balls and Marlon Samuels 38 from 52 balls. Samuels and Bravo had a partnership of 75 runs.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Irfanbow led 10 overs for 44 runs and he picked up one wicket while Harris Sohail picked up two wickets for 62 runs off nine overs.
PAKISTAN BOWLED OUT FOR 160 RUNS
Some firery bowling from Jerome Taylor, Jason Holder and Andre Russell toppled Pakistan at 25 for five wickets after 10.3 overs, Sohail Magsood 50 runs from 66 balls and Umarakmal 59 runs from 71 balls achieved a partnership of 80 runs for the sixth wicket. Shahid Afridi scored 28 runs from 26 balls. Andre Russell’s three wickets for 33, Jerome Taylor three for 15, Sulieman Benn two for 39 runs. Captain Jason Holder and Darren Sammy, picked up a wicket each.
Note: Andre Russell was named man of the match.
CAN WEST INDIES BE CONSISTENT?
Defeating Pakistan by 15 runs was a great achievement by the West Indies. Can this rhythm be upheld going all the way through? Denesh Ramdin should start the innings with Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith should be placed at number five, Darren Bravo at three and Andre Russell at four. Smith must go down in the order and Russell must be moved from batting at number eight to four. These changes are necessary.
WEST INDIES BOWLING LACKS EFFECTIVENESS
Stand-in Head Coach Stuart Williams and bowling Coach Curtly Ambrose have to sit down with Captain Jason Holder and make all the necessary adjustments to ensure that the West Indies bowlers stay on top of their game.
Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach are experienced cricketers and their bowling must reflect that experience. Approaching the One-day internationals in this World Cup must be consistency for all these bowlers. Taylor, Roach and Holder were responsible for 16 runs taken from their bowling collectively with four wickets taken, over six runs per over. This bowling performance by the West Indies was not satisfactory.
Smith, Gayle Must Be Used Interchangeably
Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle must be used at critical times and Captain Jason Holder must rotate his bowlers appropriately. Strategies used in Test cricket do not always apply to One-Day Internationals to achieve the desired outcome. Smith’s medium pace can be very useful for the West Indies.
