The first World Cup quarter-final Pakistan bulldoze West Indies

Pakistani openers and spinners bulldozed West Indies in first quarter final of ICC World Cup 2011. Pakistan, with top-class bowling and batting performances, cruised into the semifinals of the mega event, first time after 1999 World Cup, beating West Indies by 10 wickets. Openers Hafeez and Kamran, breaking the shackles of early collapses, chased the lowest total of 112 runs in just 20.5 overs. Both the batsmen remained unbeaten, scoring 61 and 47 runs respectively. Pakistan will play India or Australia in the semifinals. Earlier, West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first in Dhaka stadium but Pakistani bowlers, like the last match against Aussies, managed to strike early and bowled out West Indian at 112. Opening bowlers Umar Gul (1-11) and Mohammad Hafeez (2-12) left West Indies reeling at 16-3 before Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul cautiously guided their team past the 50 mark in the first of the quarterfinals. The charismatic captain took 4-30 as West Indies crumbled to an embarrassing 112 all out in the 44th over of their quarterfinal in Dhaka. Leg-spinner Afridi took his tournament tally to 21 while off-spinners Muhammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal chipped in with two wickets each as the West Indies collapsed after electing to bat at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the only batsman to defy the spinners with a grim 44 not out off 106 balls. The West Indies were reduced to 71-8 before a 40-run stand between Kemar Roach and Chanderpaul helped the former champions surpass their lowest World Cup total of 93 against Kenya in Pune in 1996. The West Indies never recovered from a disastrous start when they lost three top batsmen, Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo, by the sixth over.

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