Pakistani Hat-Trick Sinks Sorry Windies

Another day, another sorry loss. That's the stark reality of West Indies cricket these days and the second one-day international against pakistan Friday was no different.

The superior Pakistan team took advantage of the requisite West Indies middle order collapse to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber. Scores Pakistan 232 (49 overs); West Indies 181 (34.4 overs).

For Pakistan, all-rounder Shoaib Malik top-scored with 111 while another 20-year-old Mohammad Sami made a name for himself, taking the 15th hat-trick in one-day history with figures of 4-44 from 7.4 overs.

Lanky West Indies pacer Cameron Cuffy was the pick of the West Indies attack, taking 2-35 in his 10 overs as Pakistan recovered to from 51 for for to reach 232.

Chasing the modest total, there was an immediate hiccup when opener Darren Ganga got a first ball duck, caught at the wicket off Waqar but the left-handed Chris Gayle went into attack mode and threatened to run away with the match.

Gayle, a hard-hitting left-hander from Jamaica, sped to 50 from less than 40 balls and, at 101/2, it looked like the West Indies would break the winless streak. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Once Gayle departed for 63 from 46 balls, wickets started tumbling and before long, it was all over with the last three wickets falling in consecutive balls, putting young Sami into the record books.