Pakistan scrambled to a four-wicket victory off the penultimate ball in the fifth and final one-day international against the West Indies at the Beausejour Stadium on Wednesday.
Replying to the hosts’ total of 242/7, skipper Misbah-ul Haq’s innings of 63 again piloted the visitors to their target although they made heavy weather of it at the end, Kieron Pollard missing the stumps at the non-striker’s end and Saeed Ajmal dashing home for the winning run to the relief of his teammates.
Pakistan take the five-match series 3-1 with one tied and now both teams shift focus to the two Twenty20 internationals.
Misbah, who was dismissed at the start of the final over with the scores level, took both the man of the match and the man of the series awards.
Not for the first time in the series, the fate of the match hinged on his contribution with the bat. But from the hosts standpoint, they were left to lament a controversial moment when they were convinced that the Pakistani captain was caught off the glove by stand-in wicketkeeper Lendl Simmons off a fiery Tino Best. On 49 at the time, and with the score standing at 190/4 in the 43rd over, his dismissal then with 53 runs still needed could have been pivotal.
Scores: Pakistan 243/6 (Shehzad 64, Misbah 63; Best 3/48) beat West Indies 242/7 (Dwayne Bravo 48, Samuels 45, Charles 43; Junaid 3/48)
No cash awards play spoiler
The Pakistan team may be overjoyed at winning the five match one-day series but are surprised at not getting any cash award for lifting the winners’ trophy.
Sources in the Pakistan team said on Thursday that the players were expecting some cash prizes for the best individual efforts and for winning the series.
“But when the prize distribution ceremony was held and the players were only handed out mementoes and trophies they were clearly disappointed and surprised,” a source said.
“Normally there is always a winner’s cheque for winning a international series and also for best individual performances like the player of the series which went to Misbah-ul Haq,” the source added.
The lack of cash awards at the prize distribution ceremony perhaps, indicates the financial position of the West Indies Cricket Board, which will be organising the first ever Caribbean Premier League from next week.
“Our cricket board should take up this matter with the West Indies board,” a source said.