Smith stars in Windies 54-run win over Pak

Kingston, Mar 14 (UNI) Dwayne Smith first chipped in with a whirlwind cameo -- 32 off just 15 balls -- and then took three crucial wickets as hosts West Indies drubbed Pakistan by 54 runs in the World Cup lung opener here at Sabina Park.

After being put in to bat yesterday, the hosts posted a healthy total of 241 for nine and then followed it up with even better show in the field as their bowlers skittled out the Pakistani batsmen for 187 in 47.2 overs in the Group D match and laid to rest any doubts regarding their performance after their warm-up match debacle against India.

Smith and Dwayne Bravo took three wickets apiece but it was Daren Powell who rocked the run chase by removing both the Pakistani openers cheaply.

For the Sub-continent team, only Shoaib Malik offered some resistance top-scoring with 62 off just 54 balls.

Impressive all-round show by the hosts nonetheless, Pakistan must blame themselves for the defeat as their bowlers first let the West Indians off the hook after cornering them and then their batsmen showed anything but application.

Opener Imran Nazir started well hoisting Powell over the rope in the very but edged the bowler to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramadin in an eventful first over.

Jerome Taylor undid experienced Younis Khan (9) while Powell sent back Mohd Hafeez as Pakistan found themselves reelimg at 39 for three in the 11th over.

Skipper Inzmam-ul Haq and Mohd Yousuf played patiently and added 60 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter edged to Ramadin off Smith after making 37.

Smith gave Pakistan another big jolt when he trapped Inzamam (36, 65 balls) in front of the wicket.

Kamran Akmal fell to a wonderful catch by Bravo off Smith as Pakistan stared down the barrel.

Wickets kept falling but at the other end, Malik was at his natural and aggressive best as he played his strokes all over the park. However, the mounting run rate proved too much and the batsman hit Colleymore straight to Chanderpaul spark wild celebration in the stadium.

Earlier, Marlon Samuels hit a timely 63 as the West Indies overcame a slow start to post a challenging 241 for nine.

Mired in a match-fixing controversy last month, Samuels chose to silence his critics with an emphatic show with the bat in the Group D match.

His 70-ball effort and a 91-run crucial fourth-wicket partnership with skipper Brian Lara (37) steered the hosts clear after they were in troubled waters with three wickets down and just 77 on scoreboard in 25 overs.

A whirlwind 32 off just 15 balls by Dwayne Smith and run-a-ball 16 by Dwayne Bravo towards the end added few more creases on Inzamam-ul Haq's forehead after he had invited the hosts to bat.

Sans their pace aces -- Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd Asif -- in the tournament, Pakistan started on a promising note and Umar Gul gave his team an early breakthrough by removing dangerous Chris Gayle for just 2 runs with the team score just 7 in 2.2 overs.

However, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine played carefully as Pakistan bowlers kept a tight leash and added 57 runs for the second wicket.

For Pakistan, Anjum scalped three while Hafeez and Gul claimed two apiece.

UNI