Tall speedster Merv Dillon was the first to strike, getting a perfectly pitched delivery to take the edge of Naved Latif’s bat for stumper Jacobs to pouch. Latif was out for a duck and Pakistan were off to the worst possible start at 1/1.

Soon after, there was more bad news as a direct hit from Corey Collymore found the dangerous Younis Khan (1) short of his ground. West Indies were charged up, keen on the field and the results were coming through.

Inzamam ul-Haq, who has not quite looked the part in this series in Sharjah too departed after making a solitary run, holing out to Ganga and giving Cameron Cuffy his first wicket.

When Inzamam made that long slow walk to the pavilion Pakistan were 15/3 of 7.4 overs and in deep trouble. Shahid Afridi, who smacked the first ball he faced to the offside fence kept one end going while the ever dependable Yousuf Youhana began the repair work in earnest.

Afridi for his part, curbed his natural aggression and made a sedate 35 before he could hold back no more and had a big swing at newcomer Darrel Brown. The resultant catch was gobbled up by Darren Ganga in the outfield.

Rashid Latif was with Youhana when Pakistan reached 78/4 in 25 overs.

There was no chance of acceleration and the Pakistan bowlers clamped down tight. Keeping things straight and on the fuller side, the Pakistan team managed to keep the boundaries down to the bare minimum, allowing just the ones and twos.

Jacobs, wearing a shirt that read JACABS, on a day where one name change has already taken place, played second fiddle, giving Hooper the lion share of the strike. Hooper for his part used his wrists well, easing the ball into the gaps for singles.

With the over rate being slower than was good for Pakistan, Waqar Younis threw the ball to the pair of Shahid Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq. Afridi, bowling his brisk legspinners struck early, trapping Hooper (45 runs, 81 balls, 3 wickets) in front of the stumps with one that skidded on.

Just three overs after the captain fell, Jacobs got himself into an awful tangle trying to sweep Saqlain. A well flighted off break slipped past the batsman, clipping the leg stump. Jacobs’ 26 was the third highest score in the West Indian innings.

Darrel Brown, drafted into the side for the first one-dayer hit one handsome six over deep midwicket before perishing on 9. The rest of the tail, as is usually the case with West Indies, folded meekly. Saqlain Mustaq (2/29) and Abdul Razzaq (2/24) were the most successful bowlers for Pakistan.

Things began in spectacular fashion for the Windies, with Darren Ganga spanking Waqar Younis through the covers for a boundary. Waqar however, bowling with accuracy pushed Ganga onto the back foot to the extent that the right hander trod on his stumps with 15 to his name.

The departure of Ganga however did not deter Gayle. The tall left hander played some amazing shots, hardly moving from his crease, but hitting the ball with tremendous power. Timing the ball impeccably and swinging cleanly through the line, Gayle went hammer and tongs after the twin ‘Ws’ Waqar and Wasim Akram.

For company, Gayle in rampant mood had Wavell Hinds (15). The latter however never looked comfortable at the wicket. Shuffling across his stumps a lot and defending warily, Hinds found one short and wide too tempting and cut Shoaib Akhtar straight to Younis Khan at point.

With almost hundred on the board and 20th over not up yet, Gayle was dismissed. Cleaned up by a delivery from Abdul Razzaq – yes, the allrounder has changed his name from Abdur – Gayle departed on a well made 50 (53 balls, 10 fours).

Shivnarine Chanderpaul breezed in and out, pulling a slower ball from Razzaq straight to Shahid Afridi inside the circle on the on side. Chanderpaul did not get off the mark.

Ryan Hinds, out in the middle with the score on 97/4 should have attempted a recovery in the presence of his captain. Scampering a single however, where there was none, Hinds was caught short of his crease by a powerful throw from Akram.

Carl Hooper, batting manfully as ever had an unbeaten 24 to his name.

The lung-opener saw Carl Hooper get West Indies off to a good start, winning the toss. On a characteristically flat Sharjah wicket, West Indies elected to bat first. For Pakistan too there was some good news as ace fast bowler and former captain Wasim Akram returns to the side after injury.

Teams: West Indies: D Ganga, CH Gayle, WW Hinds, S Chanderpaul, *CL Hooper, RO Hinds, +RD Jacobs, CE Cuffy, M Dillon, D Brown, CD Collymore.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi, Naved Latif, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, +Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, *Waqar Younis.