Pakistan’s tour of West Indies - Mohammad Hafeez & Asad Shafiq - Highlights of 4th ODI – Part 1
The fourth One Day International between Pakistan and the West Indies was littered with fine displays with both bat and ball, with the rain adding a little extra to the occasion as well. West Indies emerged the winners after a stop-start affair thanks to
regular showers that resulted in extensive use of the Duckworth/Lewis method.
Scoring 154 runs from 29.5 overs, after the target was revised twice due to rain, the total was enough to secure the Windies’ their first win in the ODI series. Yet, there were plenty of displays from the Pakistani squad during the match that caught the
eye.
Mohammad Hafeez’s ‘Man of the Match’ winning century
Both consistency with the ball and some important innings with the bat have cemented Mohammad Hafeez’s position as Pakistan’s first choice opening batsman. His batting displays in the ODI series in the West Indies, have been quiet impressive for a batsman
that once found himself in and out of the squad.
Bagging his second ‘Man of the Match’ award in the ODI series so far, the first coming for his 54-run knock in the first ODI, Hafeez was one of only two batsman from his side who put in a performance of any real note.
Hafeez played his way to a 121-run score with some exquisite stroke play, in what was a well constructed innings. The batsman lingered on, batting with composure and consistency, adding runs to the scorecard, as four of Pakistan’s top order batsmen fell
around him. The 121-run knock came off 138 deliveries with an impressive strike rate of 87.68, by ODI standards at least. There was plenty of entertainment for those watching as well as Hafeez sent 7 shots rolling across the boundary and three flying over
it for six.
Yet, the significance of the knock was more in the fact that it came at a time when the Pakistan batting line-up was en route to one of its trademark collapses. To put things into perspective, Hafeez’s innings made up 48 percent of the squad’s total score.
Though, Pakistan went on to lose the match, one cannot deny the fact that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 rightfully earned the ‘Man of the Match’ prize.
Asad Shafiq’s 71 runs and his partnership with Hafeez
This Pakistani batsman is another who has found his form in the tour of West Indies as he put in a solid display, further adding to his steadily growing reputation as a well rounded batsman. While Mohammad Hafeez may have stolen all the headlines, it was
the 25-year-old, Asad Shafiq’s supporting knock of 71 runs that greatly helped his side and was one of only three innings from the Pakistan side that managed to reach double figures.
Asad Shafiq was slow but steady on his way to his half century, as Pakistan’s number three batsman took 86 balls to reach the landmark, hitting only two boundaries on the way. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shafiq-c89281 hit the accelerator a bit after that, but nothing Chris Gayle-esque, as
he only hit two more boundaries on the way to 71 runs before eventually falling in the 39th over after a poor stroke.
The partnership http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 team had to cheer about
in the batting department, but it was not just poor batting that cost them. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 bowlers were in fine form themselves.
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