Windies rout 'feeble' Pak to clinch 150-run win in CWC tie

It sure was a battle of the unpredictables as West Indies left Pakistan humiliated after reducing the Misbah-ul Haq-led side to splinters to clinch a massive 150-run win in their World Cup Pool B clash at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Put in to bat first, West Indies put up a respectable total of 310-6 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to Denesh Ramdin (51) and Lendl Simmons' (50) half-centuries and all-rounder Andre Russell's brisk 42 off just 13 deliveries.

After getting off to a stuttering start with opener Darren Smith and big-hitting batsman Chris Gayle going off for their individual 23 and four runs respectively, Darren Bravo steadied the ship for the West Indies with his 49-run knock before a hamstring injury forced him to retire from the match.

Middle-order batsmen Marlon Samuels (38), Ramdin and Simmons consolidated the scoreline for Jason Holder's men.

Player of the Match Russell was in outshining form with both the bat and ball, as he knocked a brisk unbeaten 42 off 13 deliveries, which included three fours and four sixes, before he flexed his muscles to claim three key-wickets.

Pakistan got off to the worst start in ODI history as they were reeling at 1-4 in the fourth over of the match, thanks to Jerome Taylor's blitzkrieg with the ball, as he sent three batsmen back to the pavilion without allowing them to open their account.

Opener Nasir Jamshed, veteran batsman Younis Khan and Haris Sohail were the victims of Taylor's menacing deliveries as they all went for a duck each.

However, Pakistan displayed small glimpses of resilience as Sohaib Maqsood (50) combined with wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal (59) to put up an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi failed to shine as he fell prey to Sulieman Benn's delivery on his individual 28 runs.

Pakistan were bowled out for 160 runs in 39 overs with the West Indies earning a crucial two points in the World Cup group stage game.

In light of the defeat, Misbah said that it was a tough day, especially after winning the toss, claiming that there was a little bit in the pitch, could not really exploit that and they gave away too many runs in the last few overs.

The skipper said that one could say credit should be given to the West Indians, they really cashed in, last 5-6 overs.

Misbah insisted that sometimes lack of confidence just does wonders like that. He admitted that performances like that can dent or damage a team, adding that they have some time, as the next game is nine days away.

Misbah claimed that they need to really recover mentally and think about their game, adding that this is how World Cups are

Meanwhile, West Indies skipper Holder said that it was a wonderful performance. He heaped praises on Russell, Sammy, Simmons and Ramdin, saying that they really put their hand up at the end.

Holder also said that Taylor bowled brilliantly and he supported him well, and added that they applied a lot of pressure with those early wickets. He claimed that they lost the first game and they needed to make amends here, insisting that he is really pleased they did that.