Bridgetown, Barbados – West Indies had the sweet taste of victory on Monday as they recorded their first win over Pakistan in the Digicel One Day International Series.
The triumph, by one run under the Duckworth Lewis Method, was achieved when Dwayne Bravo hit a massive six over midwicket to push the home side to 154-4 off 29.5 overs in the rain-affected 4th Digicel ODI at Kensington Oval.
Pakistan batted first and posted 248-9 off 50 overs thanks to a brilliant century from opener Mohammed Hafeez. The target was later adjusted to 223 off 39 overs under DL.
Pakistan lead the five-match series 3-1 with one game left in Guyana on Thursday.
The stars of the day for the Windies were leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who took 3-37 from 10 overs to continue his fine showing with the ball, and opener Lendl Simmons, with 76 from just 70 balls, to maintain his good run of form with the bat.
Speaking after the match, Simmons said he was thrilled with the victory and added he was enjoying his return to the international stage.
"This was a very good win for the team. We did really well and this win means a lot to the team. We played well today, we did not give up. We entered the day 3-0 down in the series and some people might have felt we would have given in, but we got a good start from the bowlers and as batsmen we knew we had to finish the job. Today, we were able to rotate the strike a lot more when we batted and that was very important," the 26-year-old right-hander said.
"I’m having a good series. My form started from back in the Caribbean T20 (in January) when I did well for Trinidad and Tobago and I have remained in a positive frame of mind. I’m feeling good when I go out to bat and I always back myself. I am expressing myself and getting positive results with the bat."
He is now looking to end the series with a century in the last match on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
"I’m taking it step by step, day by day. I would like to get a ‘big one’ in the final match and help us to end the series 3-2," he said.