Pakistan overcome lack of match practice

Wasim Akram hit 43 off 28 balls to inspire Pakistan to an important 27-run victory in their World Cup opener against the West…

Wasim Akram hit 43 off 28 balls to inspire Pakistan to an important 27-run victory in their World Cup opener against the West Indies in Bristol yesterday.

Pakistan overcame their chronic lack of match practice ahead of the tournament to dismiss Brian Lara's West Indies for 202 after they had themselves made 229 for eight in their 50 overs.

"This win is a bonus for us," Wasim said. "I was a bit worried because we went into this match without any practice at all. But we stuck to our task with both bat and ball. We can't wait to get to our remaining matches now."

Wasim's gamble to bat first in overcast conditions almost backfired as West Indian pace duo Mervyn Dillon and Courtney Walsh reduced Pakistan to 42 for four, then 135 for six. Wasim, however, hit two sixes and four boundaries to lead the revival in which Pakistan hammered 85 runs in the last 10 overs.

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"I have been due for a big innings for a long time - it's good it came at the right time when the side needed it most," he said.

Pakistan, whose three warm-up matches in England were washed out by rain and whose request for another game was denied by World Cup organisers, were also well-served by the most lethal attack in the business.

Abdul Razzaq, the fourth seamer, and Azhar Mahmood picked up three wickets each as the West Indies' reply faltered after the loss of Lara. He hit two consecutive fours off his first two balls but soon hit across the line and skied a catch to cover.

After Shoaib Akhtar, regarded as the fastest bowler in the world, had bowled Sherwin Campbell with an express delivery, Jimmy Adams played away from his body to edge a simple catch to the slips.

Ridley Jacobs followed Lara when he nudged Razzaq to give Inzamam-ul Haq his second close catch, while Ricardo Powell holed out in the deep. Left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the last man out, top-scored with 77.

In the day's other game, red-faced Australia launched their World Cup in lacklustre fashion at Worcester as 1,000 to 1 shots Scotland cornered the applause despite going down by six wickets.

The Scots, with just two professional players in their ranks and making their debuts in the tournament, managed to make the increasingly frustrated Australians look sloppy as they scored 181 for seven off their 50 overs.

But Australian skipper Steve Waugh shepherded home his side - 5 to 1 second favourites to win the competition - with 31 balls to spare after big names Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann all failed to impress with the bat.