Pakistan win Abu Dhabi series

Pakistan swept to a series win over the West Indies in the Fortune Cup despite a fighting century from the Test Cricketer of Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

The Pakistan bowler Umer Gul celebrates after helping his side win the second one-day international against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan win the series with just one game left to play.
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ABU DHABI // Pakistan swept to a series win over the West Indies in the Fortune Cup despite a fighting century from the Test Cricketer of Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Dropped twice by Saeed Ajmal, Chanderpaul anchored the inning, initially with a 92-run stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who struck 45 off 65 deliveries with four hits to the boundary. Chanderpaul was left stranded at 107 not out after Umer Gul cleaned up the West Indies inning by claiming two wickets from three balls to dismiss them for 208 in 48.5 overs in reply to Pakistan's 232 all out with an over to spare. Chanderpaul faced 149 deliveries and hit half-a-dozen fours.

Pakistan found the going tough under the sun after losing the openers Salman Butt (7) and Khurram Manzoor (0) and the West Indies fared no better under the lights with both their captain Chris Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon departing without disturbing the score. Gayle was bowled by an inswinging yorker by Tanvir Sohail and Chattergoon was caught behind by Kamran Akmal in the next over to leave the West Indies reeling at 14 for two in the fifth over.

Pakistan made a poor start. Butt caught by Jerome Taylor off his own bowling of a leading edge and Manzoor's off stump was sent cart wheeling by the West Indies paceman Daren Powell in the next over as Pakistan lost two wickets for seven runs. Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq repaired the inning with a 51-run stand before Powell struck again, from his second spell, hitting the off-stump of Younis for 34 with the total on 58. Powell was involved in the next two dismissals, first in the run out of the Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and then holding on to a catch of Misbah, the top scorer for 52 off 88 deliveries in which he had just one hit to the fence. It left Pakistan struggling at 125 for 5 in 33.1 overs. Kamran Akmal, the hero of the first match, hit a brisk 45 off 54 deliveries and shared a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket with Shahid Afridi, who stroked 28 off 24 with a six and a four. And Sohail Tanvir hit four fours for a useful 26 of 20. Jerome Taylor, who was carted for 17 runs in that eventful last over for Pakistan to clinch the first match, was the pick of the bowlers with three for 38 from nine overs. His opening ball partner Daren Powell took 3 for 50 from eight. apassela@thenational.ae