Malik ton seals ODI series for Pakistan

Shoaib Malik, the former skipper, scored his ninth century as Pakistan overpowered West Indies by six wickets in the series-deciding third One-Day International in Providence, Guyana, on Tuesday (April 11).

After Jason Holder had won the toss and opted to bat, West Indies could only manage 233 for 9. Pakistan rode on a fourth-wicket stand of 113 between Malik and Mohammad Hafeez to finish on 236 for 4 in 43.1 overs, thus clinching the three-match series 2-1.

Malik brought up his century, as well as the victory, in some style by hammering Holder down the ground for his second six. His 101 not out, which included two sixes and ten fours, was matched by an assured 81 from Hafeez.

Hafeez completely dominated their partnership, his innings coming off 86 balls with two sixes and eight fours before a miscued sweep off Ashley Nurse found Veerasammy Permaul on the backward square-leg boundary.

Permaul, the left-arm spinner, was brought in for paceman Alzarri Joseph on a turning track but went for 31 runs from his four overs, Devendra Bishoo, the legspinner, also lacked potency in helpful conditions as he went wicketless in his 10 overs, even though he only conceded 42 runs.

West Indies suffered a familiar top-order wobble before Shai Hope (71) and Jason Mohammed (59) rode to their rescue. Mohammed's excellent recent run of form continued as he made an untroubled 59 off 64 balls with two sixes and five fours, his fourth half-century in six ODIs. The pair put on 101 for the fourth wicket.

However, West Indies lost vital wickets in the quest for quick runs, managing just 29 in the last five as Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan skipper in his first full series as captain, turned to his faster bowlers to good effect.

Junaid Khan, who had accounted for Evin Lewis at the start of the innings, returned to have Mohammed caught at the wicket. Hope fell to Shadab Khan, but the leg-spinner had an otherwise rough day, being taken for 57 runs off eight overs.

On a surface that was used for the third consecutive match, Imad Wasim and Hafeez, the finger spinners, were difficult to get away. Wasim conceded only 24 runs from his full allotment of ten overs for the wicket of Kieran Powell, who was deceived in the air and stumped, while Hafeez only conceded 21 runs in his seven overs.

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