gets a low full toss which he has hit it straight to mid-on. Ajmal is not sure whether to go for it. Afridi wants him to. So that at least Afridi gets the strike. Pollard, though, misses the stumps from close range. And Pakistan have won 3-1
West Indies vs Pakistan, 5th ODI at Gros Islet, Jul 24 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Oh boy. Those are pretty serious quotes from Bravo about "key decisions". He has not uttered the word "umpire", but it no mystery what he is talking about. I am not going to comment whether what he is saying is right or wrong - you can always go back and read our ball-by-ball commentary - but this could get him into trouble with the ICC. I can still see Ottis Gibson have a long chat with the match referee David Boon. Possibly he is trying to understand on what basis was Darren Bravo given out but not Misbah. They seemed pretty similar cases, to be fair to him. Anyway, I hope they make an official complaint about it, and not just make suggestive noises in press conferences. If they make an official complaint, only then will we know if the umpires were right or if they had made a mistake.
Meanwhile, Pakistan get the trophy and pose for the photos. They still have two more matches left before they leave these shores, the two T20Is on Saturday and Sunday. See you there then
Quotes from the presentation
"Today we lost," says Dwayne Bravo, "but the guys fought. You have to give credit to them. Must congratulate Pakistan, and well done to my boys too. The matches could have gone either way. Even today a few key decisions went against us. We can't fault the effort of the players. The series could have gone our way if some key decisions had gone our way. If you bowl well, 242 was going to be a challenging total. I liked how we believed right until the end. Those key decisions at crucial times cost us. A learning process to me. A new role for me. With the talent we have, I enjoy leading the team. We can't turn things around overnight, but with the talent we have we can become a very dangerous team."
"Pretty satisfying," says Misbah-ul-Haq, who is also the Man of the Match and Series. "A win is always good, especially after the losses in South Africa series and Champions Trophy. I knew this pitch was really good to bat on, and if we kept batting till the end, nothing was impossible. The bowling has obviously been our strength. Everybody bowled really well, which was the key in this win. Always tough to bowl first, especially in pressure games like this, but everybody was really positive, that we were going to chase well."
Afridi and Ajmal erupt with joy. Some of their team-mates rush onto the field. Misbah walks on coolly. All smiles in the Pakistan camp. West Indies are expectedly distraught, but there are handshakes all around. The series has been played tough but largely in good spirit
So Pakistan have finally won the series although they had to endure a nervous end. They began well with the ball with left-arm quicks Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan leading the way. Towards the end, they lost their composure a bit, conceding 74 in last six overs. The same happened with the bat. Ahmed Shehzad and Misbah led them with fifties, but it took an exceptionally nervous last over for them to make it. We will shortly bring you the quotes from the presentation
"Saamne, saamne," Afridi is still telling Ajmal. [Hit straight]
slower ball, Ajmal slogs, is beaten. The game is still alive
"Saamne marna," Afridi tells Ajmal. [Hit it straight]
nearly another wicket. Full and straight, Ajmal is beaten, is hit on the pad outside the line of off. Wants the single but is rightly sent back
In the dressing room, Whatmore stands up and hugs some PCB official before applauding Misbah's effort. He gets a standing ovation from everybody. Pakistan have won the series already. They need a single to make this a 3-1 win
Misbah, you little tease. How do you even manage to do this? The game is still alive. Low full toss, hit straight down straight short midwicket's throat. Before leaving, Misbah has a word with Afridi. And also the new batsman, Ajmal
nearly that twist. Afridi attempts a cute little ramp, is beaten by a full toss. Misbah calls him through for a leg-bye, Sammy shies from square leg, misses by inches. He has gone had this hit
Two required off the last over. is there still a twist left? I don't think so. Here is Holder. Seven men inside the ring, but none of them catching
short, skiddy, hits him high on the pad, but can't deny him a leg-bye
People have begun to leave the ground
poor bowling from Bravo. Short and wide and meek with a strong leg-side field. Afridi crunches it past point for four
Misbah to Afridi: "Ab bolein jada hai, run kum hain. Idhar maar, idhar khali hai." [Now balls left are more than runs required. Hit on the off side, it is vacant]
and Afridi wins the bouncer challenge. Looks like the regulation-paced one, head high, Afridi stands tall, doesn't bother transferring the weight back, and hooks. Takes the deep midwicket on, and clears him. Now less than a run a ball for Pakistan
Misbah moves across, Bravo bowls full and straight. Clipped to square leg for one
Now square leg goes back, fine leg comes up. Long-on goes back
quicker short ball, Afridi moves across to try to drag it to leg, but is hit on the body. However, the leg-bye is taken, and Misbah is on strike now
Third man goes back now. Long-on comes up to mid-on. Now mid-on, Sammy, and midwicket, Best, exchange places
slower bouncer as expected. Afridi wants to ramp it over third man, but makes no connection
That couple has brought Afridi on strike. I am suspecting Bravo and Holder will bowl these overs. Bravo is bowling the 49th. Could even be Samuels for the 50th
Bravo to continue round the stumps. He has done well so far, has Bravo. Sammy and Bravo having a ling chat. The field is set for the bouncer. Fine leg, two midwickets and long-on are back. Slower bouncers more like. Third man is in
short, rib high, pulled along the ground, past midwicket, for a couple
bouncer, middle and leg. Misbah wants the wide call. Not given. It has been called one for the over. Touch and go again. Misbah has ducked a little so it is hard to tell exactly how high this is
5.18pm No overs lost. We are ready to go. Misbah on strike. Afridi at the other end. Best to bowl. The lights are on
5.15pm The covers are off. The players are walking back. You have got to believe this rain break can have helped only West Indies
4.57pm It's raining hard, and the covers are coming on, but this rain has to persist for a long time to bring the D/L in. On D/L, Pakistan are still ahead by five runs. Remember, overs start reducing only after 45 minutes have been lost
Akmal has played one shot too many. He has premeditated a drive, but the ball is short of a length, and all he manages is a lob to mid-off. And the covers are coming on. Forget D/L, Pakistan have lost a settled batsman who was going well to a premeditated shot. Pakistan are five ahead on D/L, though
Pakistan are now seven ahead of the D/L par. And it has begun to rain
short. Quick and short. Akmal swings hard. Gets a top edge over the keeper's head
as is Akmal. Gets a half-volley, a quick one. Akmal clears the front leg, and goes inside out to hit it over mid-off. Turns out he has hit it so well it goes for six
The ground staff is ready
Akmal makes room and swings hard at a length ball outside off. Beaten
I don't think rain will play a part. Pakistan should also think similarly. Because overs won't start reducing until there has been a 45-minute delay. Twenty-seven required off three overs. Here is Best
down the wicket, but Bravo stays full and straight, and all Akmal can get is a single
I see rain clouds approaching. The ground staff is ready. Pakistan are tied with the par score
full, nearly a yorker, Misbah can't get under it. Drives it for a single
backs away to take a full delivery from middle to push it to extra cover for one