Windies drub Pakistan by 150 runs (Intro Roundup)

A much improved all-round performance helped the West Indies thump Pakistan by 150 runs, their biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against the Asian team, in a Pool B World Cup match here Saturday.

Pakistan have now lost their first two games of the tournament while the West Indies won their first match after losing their opener against minnows Ireland.

Pakistan were reduced to 1/4 after 3.1 overs, chasing a target of 311 runs. This is the worst four-wicket score in the history of One-Day Internationals (ODI).

Pacer Jerome Taylor (3/15) took the first three wickets to fall, which broke the backbone of Pakistan's batting at the Hagley Oval. Pakistan had strengthened their batting line-up since their opening match loss to India by dropping leg-spinner Yasir Shah and bringing in Nasir Jamshed as opener. But, Jamshed (0) failed to click.

Skipper Misbah ul Haq (7) fell in the 11th over to leave the 1992 edition champions tottering at 25/5.

Wicketkeeper Umar Akmal (59), together with Sohaib Maqsood (50), structured the innings to an extent, putting up 80 runs before Maqsood fell to a brilliant catch by Sulieman Benn off the bowling of Darren Sammy (1/47).

Akmal was the next to fall when he holed out to Dwayne Smith to give Man-of-the-Match Andre Russell (3/33) his second wicket, leaving Pakistan 139/7 with the tail exposed.

Shahid Afridi (28), Wahab Riaz (3) and Sohail Khan (1) then fell for just 21 runs as Pakistan were bowled out for 160 in 39 overs.

Earlier, an all-round batting performance from the West Indies helped them to 310/6 against a sloppy Pakistan. Pakistan were left to rue several dropped catches after winning the toss and deciding to bowl as the Windies recovered from the loss of early wickets to post a strong total.

The West Indies struggled at the start as destructive opener Chris Gayle (4) went early, top edging pacer Mohammed Irfan. Fellow opener Dwayne Smith (23) was soon back in the pavilion as the side from the Caribbean was reduced to 28/2 inside the first eight overs.

However, the West Indies were able to recover as Darren Bravo (49) and Marlon Samuels (38) tried to attack before Bravo retired hurt with a hamstring injury.

Denesh Ramdin's 51 off 43 helped to accelerate the Windies past 300 with Lendl Simmons hitting 50 off 46 balls.

The West Indies managed to reach 310/6 after Russell smashed a quick-fire 43 off just 13 deliveries in the dying overs.

Brief Scores: West Indies 310/6 (Denesh Ramdin 51, Lendl Simmons 50; Haris Sohail 2/62, Mohammad Irfan 1/44) beat Pakistan 160 all out in 39 overs (Umar Akmal 59, Sohaib Maqsood 50; Jerome Taylor 3/15, Andre Russell 3/33).