First blood to West Indies
Brian Lara's team are off to a good start in a group also featuring Ireland and Zimbabwe
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Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 11:34
West Indies have won the opening game of the 2007 cricket World Cup after defeating Pakistan by 54 runs in Jamaica's Sabina Park.
All-rounder Dwayne Smith took the plaudits for the hosts in the group D clash, hitting a crucial 32 off less than half as many balls and claiming bowling figures of 3-36.
Brian Lara's team had set Pakistan a modest target of 241-9, but the visitors could only manage 187 all out, leaving 16 balls unbowled.
Marlon Samuels (63) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) steadied the ship for West Indies after the early dismissal of Chris Gayle, but it was the former's 91 partnership with Lara that ultimately won the game.
Mohammed Hafeez accounted for both batsmen, with Smith's quickfire 32 rounding off the game for the home side.
In response Imran Nazir, Hafeez and Younis Khan could only manage 26 between them, before Smith struck to claim the key middle order wickets of Mohammad Yousuf (37) and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (36).
Shoaib Malik's 62 gave Pakistan hope, but Smith set up an unexpectedly easy end to the match by sending Kamran Akmal back to the pavilion for a duck, with the visitors' tail collapsing soon after.