Gayle and Hooper inspire West Indies win

Part-time off-spinner Chris Gayle took four wickets and Carl Hooper struck a century to lead West Indies to a 110-run consolation victory over Pakistan in the third and final one-day match on Sunday.

Captain Hooper smashed 112, his seventh century in 205 one-day internationals, and shared a 154-run fifth-wicket stand with Shivnarine Chanerpaul as the Windies recovered from a faltering start to post a healthy 260 for five in 50 overs.

Pakistan, who had won both Tests and the first two one-day internationals, were shot out for 150 in 40.2 overs, with Gayle running through the lower order, conceding only 19 runs for his four wickets.

It was fast bowlers Pedro Collins and Mervyn Dillon who ripped out Pakistan's top batsmen.

Collins dismissed Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, while Dillon took care of Naveed Latif and Yousuf Youhana to leave Pakistan reeling at 51 for four in the 11th over.

Shoaib Malik, who slammed a fluent century on Friday, did dig in, but fell for 37 off 70 balls with four fours.

It was left to out-of-form Inzamam-ul-Haq to check the rampaging West Indies attack.

Coming in down the order, the burly batsman was dropped by Hooper on 11 off his bowling, but he failed to exploit his life and was out for 21 to leave Pakistan struggling at 127 for seven. The tail-enders only delayed the inevitable.

Earlier, Hooper and Chanderpaul led the fightback after the West Indies were reduced to 61 for four in the 14th over.

SIXES

Hooper made an unbeaten 112 off 127 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, while Chanderpaul scored 67 off 93 balls with four fours and two sixes.

West Indies had lost their way early in the innings when the Pakistan pace attack, spearheaded by skipper Waqar Younis, struck several blows.

Waqar set the tone as early as in the first over, forcing an edge from Daren Ganga to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif.

Gayle, with two half centuries under his belt in the series, failed to consolidate the innings despite earning a life on 10 when Inzamam dropped a straightforward catch, eventually being caught in the slips off Shoaib Akhtar for 19.

The quick fall of Runako Morton, flown in as a replacement for the injured Marlon Samuels, reduced West Indies to 38 for three in the ninth over.

Much was expected from Wavell Hinds, who was timing the ball well, but on 22 he edged a delivery from Mohammed Sami at slip where Younis Khan made no mistake.

Mail Cricket Editor