Bravo edges Windies to victory

Dwayne Bravo’s six in the final over proved crucial as West Indies eked out a one-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis method against Pakistan in a rain-reduced encounter at the Kensington Oval.

After two wickets had fallen in quick succession, it was left to Bravo to hit a maximum off Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi to see the West Indies home.

It was their first triumph over a senior side since India toured the Caribbean in 2009 and although Pakistan had already sealed a series success by winning the first three matches, Darren Sammy’s men can be proud of the way they battled.

They had been set a reduced target of 233 off 39 overs after a Mohammad Hafeez century helped Pakistan to 248 for nine from 50 overs.

Opener Kirk Edwards was out for a golden duck at the start of the Windies reply, but Lendl Simmons played with aggressive intent and was well supported by Darren Bravo.

The latter undid his good work by gifting a catch down to deep third man off Junaid Khan for 21 but the recalled Ramresh Sarwan and Simmons put on a partnership worth 75 for the third wicket.

However, Sarwan fell to the talismanic Hafeez in the 25th over and top-scorer Simmons was dismissed for a brisk 76 seven deliveries later to leaves the Windies reeling.

That brought new batsmen Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels together and they guided their side to 148 for four after 29 overs.

Had the game been stopped then and there, it would have meant a draw but with orders from the dressing room to go for the win, Bravo leant back and put Afridi over midwicket for a six in the next over which proved to be the decisive blow as the heavens opened soon after.

Pakistan can only have themselves to blame as a late collapse saw them fail to make the most of Hafeez's outstanding ton.

Opener Hafeez made 121 off just 138 balls, smashing three sixes and seven fours, and built a second-wicket partnership worth 153 with Asad Shafiq after the early dismissal of Ahmed Shehzad for just six.

But after Shafiq went for 71, leaving Pakistan on 168 for two, the tourists' middle order failed to build on their early dominance.

Afridi added only eight and Misbah-ul-Haq five, meaning that when Hafeez's innings came to an end in the 46th over, bowled by Devendra Bishoo, Pakistan were on 219 for five and in the middle of a late collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 34 runs.

Bishoo made Hammad Azam his third victim, caught at fine leg for just one, but Pakistan were also the architects of their own downfall with first Mohammad Salman and then debutant Usman Salahuddin run out.

Tanvir put up some resistance, scoring a quickfire 18 off 12 balls with two sixes, but succumbed three balls from the finish when he was bowled off an inside edge by Dwayne Bravo.

Bishoo was the clear pick of the bowlers, taking 3-37, while Bravo’s brace cost 60 runs and Kemar Roach took 2-67.

Mohammad Hafeez's superb century was in vain as West Indies claimed a one-run win over Pakistan under the Duckworth-Lewis method