The three-match series between West Indies and Pakistan is level at 1-1 ahead of the final game of at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday (April 11). If Jason Mohammed and Ashley Nurse stole the show in the first One-Day International, Babar Azam and Hasan Ali pulled one back in the visitors' favour in the second outing. Pressure is slightly more on the hosts than Pakistan going into the decider as a victory will not only give them a series win, but also better their chances of achieving an automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
West Indies, who failed to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy, do need to bear in mind that they only have nine more ODIs (3 against Afghanistan, 1 against Ireland and 5 against England) before the September 30, 2017 cut-off date to better their standings. Few players left out due to poor form, few having issues with the cricket board, few choosing franchise over country - whatever may be the reason, an avid cricket fan would ideally want the two-time world champions to earn a direct entry for the 2019 event.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Selection Panel announced the 14-man squad for the third and final match of the ODI Series against Pakistan in the Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul has been added to the squad. The 27-year-old has so far played six ODIs, taking eight wickets (average 30.0; economy rate 4.69).
Head Coach Stuart Law outlined that Permaul was called up as cover for fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who is undergoing treatment on his right hamstring and will have a fitness test on the morning of the match.
The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium. First ball is 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time).
FULL SQUAD (with shirt numbers) 98. Jason Holder (Captain) 70. Devendra Bishoo 78. Jonathan Carter 41. Miguel Cummins 85. Shannon Gabriel 4. Shai Hope 18. Alzarri Joseph 17. Evin Lewis 93. Jason Mohammed 5. Ashley Nurse 94. Veerasammy Permaul 23. Kieran Powell 52. Rovman Powell 57. Chadwick Walton
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC — Trinidad and Tobago Red Force defeated Barbados Pride by 130 runs late on day three of their day/night ninth round game in the Regional four-day championship at Kensington Oval here Sunday night.
Scores:
RED FORCE 196 (Roshon Primus 60, Isaiah Rajah 38, Amir Jangoo 32; Kevin Stoute 4-51, Justin Greaves 3-29) and 211 (Amir Jangoo 71, Roshon Primus 51, Yannic Cariah 31; Justin Greaves 5-63, Jomel Warrican 3-19, Kevin Stoute 2-55)
PRIDE 168 (Kevin Stoute 81 not out, Kenroy Williams 46; Roshon Primus 4-21, Bryan Charles 3-32) and 108 (Justin Greaves 20; Roshon Primus 5-21, Marlon Richards 2-24)
A career-best unbeaten 125 by Babar Azam, followed by a clinical bowling performance, ensured Pakistan eased to a 74-run win to level the three-match series. Set 283 to win, West Indies wilted early despite beginning the chase with attacking intent. That purposefulness came at the cost of early wickets, with both openers back in the pavilion by the fifth over.
After that, it was left to Pakistan's spinners to asphyxiate what remained of the West Indies' batting line-up. Jason Holder and Ashley Nurse gave the crowd - a large, expectant turnout in the wake of the first game's heroics - some light entertainment with a breezy 58-run partnership, but even as the clouds gathered in the distance, lightning was never going to strike twice, as Hasan Ali finished with 5 for 38.
There are some decisions made by the Operations department of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which boggle the mind.
Having to adjust the fixtures for one match in the dying stages of the 2016-17 Digicel Regional first-class Championship in light of the three-match One-Day International series between West Indies and Pakistan in Guyana, which started Friday, could very well result in a psychological advantage for at least one team, Guyana Jaguars.
And the fact that players have been forced to miss the ninth and penultimate round, which also opened today because of their selection on the WICB President’s X1 team for a three-day match against Pakistan in Jamaica starting April 15, cannot go unnoticed.
