In a World Cup match at Bristol, Pakistan triumphed over West Indies by 27 runs. Despite a shaky start, Pakistan's depth in batting and bowling saw them through, while West Indies struggled against a relentless Pakistani attack.
Match Details:
Toss: Pakistan won and elected to bat.
Venue: County Ground, Bristol
Result: Pakistan won by 27 runs.
International Debut: R. L. Powell (West Indies)
Pakistan's Innings:
Total: 229 for 8 (50 overs).
Key Moments:
Early Trouble: Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position at 42 for 4 in the 19th over, raising questions about Wasim Akram's decision to bat first under cloudy skies.
Middle Order Recovery: Ijaz Ahmed stabilized the innings, while Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood capitalized on the part-time bowlers later on.
Late Surge: With the West Indies running short of frontline bowlers, debutant R. L. Powell bowled the 47th over, which proved costly. Pakistan exploited the second-string bowlers to score 80 off the last 48 balls, setting a competitive total.
West Indies' Innings:
Total: 202 all out (49.5 overs).
Key Moments:
Unsettled Start: Adrian Campbell, attempting a pull shot, edged Shoaib Akhtar’s first ball for six over the slips but was soon bowled by Shoaib in his next over.
Top Order Struggles: The top order faltered against Pakistan's relentless pace and spin attack.
Chanderpaul's Lone Fight: Shivnarine Chanderpaul put up a valiant fight but lacked support from the other end, as wickets continued to fall.
Summary:
Despite an initial collapse, Pakistan's middle and lower order batsmen, supported by the misjudgment of West Indies' bowling strategy, managed to post a defendable total. The West Indies' response was hindered by consistent pressure from Pakistan's bowlers, particularly Shoaib Akhtar, leading to a steady fall of wickets. Chanderpaul's efforts were noteworthy but insufficient to turn the tide for his team.
The match, part of the ICC World Cup 1999, demonstrated Pakistan's resilience and ability to capitalize on opposition weaknesses, securing a crucial victory in the tournament.
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