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Windies score 17-run win over Pak

Reon King, named man-of-the-match,Impressive win keeps Windies unbeaten in 2000 Trophy ST. GEORGE'S, April 16 (AFP) - Their batsmen set it up and their bowlers formalised a 17-run triumph for West Indies over Pakistan at Queen's Park Stadium in the sixth and final preliminary match of the tri-nation 2000 Trophy limited-overs series on Sunday.

Sherwin Campbell and Ricardo Powell each scored half-centuries to lift West Indies to a respectable 248 for six off 50 overs after it looked like they might have fallen for something less formidable.

Though there was a century fourth-wicket stand between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, both of whom completed half-centuries, Pakistan were unable to reach the magic number of 249 and were bowled out with the first ball of the last over.

The result ensured West Indies completed the preliminary competition unbeaten, a significant transformation in their form in limited-overs internationals over the last year. It was their second defeat of Pakistan after a streak of six wins over the hosts. The two sides now transfer their attention to the three-match finals in Bridgetown on Wednesday and in Port-of-Spain (April 22 and 23).

West Indies should enter with the psychological advantage after seeing Pakistan crumble in the late stages of Sunday's match.

Inzamam hit five fours in the top score of 69 off 95 balls and Yousuf made a welcomed return to form with three fours in 56 off 77 balls to share 123 for the fourth-wicket in just under 25 overs after Pakistan's innings was in turmoil.

There were 24 for three in the ninth over after fast bowler Reon King, named man-of-the-match, captured two of his three wickets. He had Imran Nazir caught at point by wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs for nine in the fifth over and returned to have Wajahatullah Wasti bowled for ten in the ninth over.

In between, Mohammed Wasim was run out by Jimmy Adams' throw from cover to Nehemiah Perry at the bowler's end for nought in the seventh over.

Both Inzamam and Yousuf started circumspectly, but they prospered to play some fine strokes either side of the wicket to keep West Indies guessing about the outcome to the match played before a near capacity crowd.

Inzamam, however, was run out for the 32nd time in limited-overs cricket when he failed to beat a direct hit at the non-striker's end by bowler Franklyn Rose on his follow-through, going for a single in the 35th over. His dismissal opened the floodgates. There was neither little substance nor stability from the rest of the Pakistani batting and they fell to their second defeat against West Indies in as many matches.

The last six Pakistani wickets tumbled for 87 in 13.4 overs including the key wicket late of captain Moin Khan, whose ability to transform matches for his side are well-known, but died when he lofted off-spin bowler Perry to long-on in the 44th over.

Earlier, Campbell hit the top score of 56 off 91 balls to give the innings early momentum and Powell gathered 50 off 35 balls to accelerate the scoring rate late in the innings.

Campbell and Philo Wallace gave West Indies a useful opening stand of 35 inside the first eight overs, but the batsmen got bogged down in the mid-section of the innings by accurate bowling.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdur Razzaq and Arshad Khan each captured one wicket to check West Indies' advance every time it looked like they were about to step up the tempo.

Wallace was adjudged lbw to Abdur in the eighth over for 17, but there was a stand of 51 between Campbell and left-hander Wavel Hinds before Mushtaq broke through in the 26th over.

Hinds swept the leg-spin bowler into the lap of square leg to be dismissed for 24 to make way for Campbell and Chris Gayle to add 41 for the third wicket.

Campbell dropped on 56 by Yousuf at deep square leg off the third ball of Arshad's fifth over, gave his hand away next ball when he repeated the same flick shot and skied a catch to the same fielder. He hit five fours and one six. Just when Gayle and Jimmy Adams was about to get into the thick of things, the West Indies captain was run out by a throw from Inzamam at mid-wicket to the bowler's end to be out for 11 in the 38th over.

Gayle remained to score 42 off 48 balls including four fours, but was caught at mid-on off fast bowler Waqar Younis in the 41st over.

Powell and Ridley Jacobs were the ones to give the West Indies innings substance with a stand of 62 off 50 balls. They helped their side to raise 84 runs in the final ten overs, but Jacobs was run out by Mushtaq's throw from deep mid-wicket to wicketkeeper Moin Khan in the 47th over.