Pak survive scare against second-string West Indies

The second-string West Indies side were bowled out for a paltry 133 as Umar Gul,Mohammad Aamer and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan doing most of the damage. In reply,Pakistan at one stage were reduced to 76 for five,before Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi steadied the ship. The duo were involved in an unbroken partnership of 58 which saw Pakistan home with 19.3 overs to spare.

Gul and Naved-ul-Hasan,whose best ODI figures of 6/27 came against India,both seemed in fine rhythm and made life miserable for the batsmen. But it was the success of the group of the relatively unfamiliar pacers that would have instilled fear of the unknown in the minds of Indian batsmen.

This was bunch dominated by West Indian pacers,who have made the trip to South Africa because their regulars are still fighting over their contracts with the board. They,like the rest of their team,were seen as a smudge on the tournament thats being marketed as having the top eight sides in the world.

Gavin Tonge didnt let his limited experience (hed played just two one-dayers before this) show as he swaggered onto the big stage. The tall,strapping 26-year-old bowled the kind of line and length that would trouble most batsmen,and his ability to move the ball both ways meant he took the first four Pakistan wickets.

He got good support from Darren Sammy and Tino Best at the other end,both consistently bowling at over 140 kmph,leaving the small target looking like a mountain at one stage.

Until,of course,Akmal and Afridi swaggered in to inflict some damage of their own.