http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 fails to post a decent total for the third time in a row as Pakistan close in on a series win - mid-innings report
WI: 171runs/45overs
Pakistani bowlers reigned for the third time in a row as the West Indians stuttered to another low total against the visitors in the third match of the five-match One Day series.
The third game was delayed due to rainfall. The ground staff at the Kensington Oval put in a special effort to ensure that no more than 5 overs per side are lost.
The crucial toss was won by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and he had little hesitation in putting the hosts in to bat first.
In the overcast conditions, the hosts were circumspect at the start of their innings for a disappointing fourth time in a row. All-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76900, grabbed an important wicket of Devon Smith, the West Indian opener.
Remarkably every time the left-handed batsman has been sent off the field, he is caught leg-before-wicket (lbw) by the off-spinner who seems clueless in spotting his varieties.
The two most successful batsmen in the series for the West Indies, Darren Bravo and Lendl Simmons, added 86 runs following the fall of their team’s first wicket. Simmons was in scintillating form for the third time in the running but he failed to make the most of his form, falling for 51 runs off 64 balls.
Bravo was dismissed for 47 runs and once again it was the pinpoint accuracy of Hafeez that won him an lbw decision.
From there on, another West Indian collapse was inspiring. The middle and later order succumbed to a series of amateur strokes that defied the status of an international team comprising of professional players.
Pakistani bowlers tightened the grip and made full use of the West Indian approach. Marlon Samuels who was recalled at the start of the tour continued his lean trot.
Samuels was bowled by Junaid Khan, giving the left-handed bowler his first wicket in ODI cricket in his third game.
Kirk Edwards was run out after a promising start to his innings, while the West Indian day was summed up by the dismissal of captain, Darren Sammy, and Dwayne Bravo, both scooped catches to deep mid-on in one over, bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c95839.
The hosts ended up with another below par score of 171 and they would now need to bowl out of their skins if they are to hold http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 back.
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