Misbah-ul-Haq helps Pakistan clinch the ODI series in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 tour
The vice-captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972’s, 62-run knock guided Pakistan to a three-wicket victory in the third One-Day International (ODI) against West Indies at the Keningston Oval Stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday, 28th April.
While batting first, West Indies set a below par target of 171 runs in 43.4 overs. In response, the Green Shirts also took an unstable batting start, losing four wickets early in their innings in 11.4 overs.
Pakistan’s opener, Ahmed Shehzad, who scored a century in the second ODI, was sent back to the pavilion for a duck by Ravi Rampaul.
Asad Shafiq was the next batsman to go for a duck by Rampaul. He was caught by the Windies’ captain, Darren Sammy, off Rampaul’s ball.
Ravi was on his way to secure a hat-trick when Misbah stepped onto the crease with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76900. The fall of their first two wickets in early succession put the Pakistani batsmen under immense pressure.
As a result, Hafeez also failed to stand on the wickets for long and was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Davendra-Bishoo-c52569 off Rampaul’s ball.
Following Hafeez, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 joined Misbah on the crease while West Indies was completely dominating the match. However, both batsmen offered little resistance to Windies’ overriding bowling attack, safely playing the next eight overs.
Akmal, played a significant role in reducing pressure from his side by hitting five boundaries but failed to escape Ravi’s attacking bowling, getting caught by wicketkeeper, Lendl Simmons.
Nonetheless, Misbah steadily kept on scoring runs and did not provide any room to the Caribbean bowlers to derail his chase for the target.
Following Akmal, Hammad Azam was the next batsman to come on to the pitch to accompany the vice-captain. Hammad played a useful innings of 36 runs off 64 balls, including one four and one six, before he was trapped lbw by Bishoo.
The Men in Green were once again under pressure following Hammad’s dismissal. However, skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, still resembled a ray of hope for his team.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, Afridi also went back to the pavilion without adding any considerable runs, caught by Smith off Bishoo’s bowling.
At this point, the visitors were cruising along 143/6 and the team’s hopes were pinned to Misbah, standing firm on his wickets with determination of steering http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 to victory.
The vice-captain, along with pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c95839, helped his side to clinch the series 3-0 with his brilliant unbeaten 62 runs, including four fours and one six.
Misbah was awarded man of the match while Riaz also remained unbeaten with his 17 runs that included two sixes.
Misbah has maintained a marvelous batting form throughout the series. In the first ODI, he scored an unbeaten 73 runs off 90 balls while in the second ODI, he again remained unbeaten, scoring 43 runs.
Pakistan will face West Indies on 2nd May in the fourth ODI at the same venue.
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