Pakistan pay dearly for fielding lapses

Lara, to whose name are credited two highest personal scores at Sharjah — scores of 169 and 153 — gave no hint of his recent troubles and batted most responsibly in his team’s interest.

Little went right for Pakistan during the afternoon but they had no one but themselves to blame.

First Inzamam-ul Haq failed to get under a skier from Wallace, a tame offering, when the batsman was on 20 and later Williams was dropped twice in two overs by Saqlain Mushtaq and Wasim Akram within the circle. There were sloppy fieldings galore and the batsmen were quick to make extra runs on these lapse.

Still, Wallace and Williams did more than adequate job, the latter finally falling to off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq’s guile, having made 32 off 52 deliveries. Williams showed his penchant for hits over midwicket and played a fairly brilliant, if chancy innings of 77 off 105 deliveries.

Lara had the advantage of a good start but he was at his mercurial best as his 50 off 46 balls would testiy. There was one thundering six over long off against Waqar Younis when the fast bowler pitched it short, he was furiously pulled over midwicket. In between, Lara cut Afridi most delicately for a boundary at third man.

Carl Hooper (17) was supporting the left-hander well, playing with soft hands and picking up the gaps effortlessly. But the introduction of Saqlain for his second spell saw his doom as his one heave over midwicket never materiallised and Moin Khan did a regulation stumping. Hooper’s departure made it 217 for three in the 41st over with Lara unbeaten on 73.

Lara’s 88 was made of 80 balls with five fours and three sixes, one each of Mahmood, Younis and Afridi.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies: Philo Wallace c Inzamam b Saqlain 32, Stuart Williams c Akram b Afridi 77, Brian Lara c Mahmood b Akram 88, Carl Hooper st Moin b Saqlain 17, Phil Simmons c Sohail b Saqlain 22, Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out 16, Franklyn Rose b Akram 2, David Williams c & b Akram 0, Raul Lewis not out 1.

Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 12, nb 1): 20.

Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs): 275

Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-160, 3-217, 4-243, 5-266, 6-271, 7-271.

Bowling: Akram 10-0-62-3, Waqar 10-0-53-0, Mahmood 10-0-61-0, Saqlain 10-0-35-3, Afridi 10-0-57-1

Windies beat Pak

The West Indies beat Pakistan by 43 runs in the Akai Singer Champions Trophy four-nation cricket tournament at the Sharjah Stadium here tonight.

Scores: West Indies: 275-7 in 50 overs (B Lara 88, S Williams 77, S Mustaq 3-35, W Akram 3-62).

Pakistan: 232 all out in 46 overs (S Afridi 67, Inzamam-ul Haq 33, C Walsh 2-14).