“Gotta blame it on something, blame it on the rain that was falling, blame it on the stars that didn’t shine at night, whatever you do, don’t put the blame on you.”
These lyrics from Milli Vanilli’s hit song ‘Blame it on the Rain’ applied to the West Indies cricket team on Sunday, who for all intents and purposes lost the fourth One Day International to Pakistan at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on account of rain.
One thing West Indies can’t do is put the blame on Marlon Samuels. He struck nine fours and four sixes for 106 off 104 balls, as West Indies fell prey to the rain and the Duckworth-Lewis Method.
West Indies who were sent in to bat compiled 261 for seven in the rain reduced allotment of 49 overs. Adding to the West Indies total was Lendl Simmons (46), Johnson Charles (32) and Chris Gayle (30).
Once again the Beausejour crowd gave Darren Sammy a loud standing ovation when he made his entrance. However he didn’t last long during a brief partnership with Samuels after being bowled out by Mohammad Irfan for seven.
The rain delay which lasted close to an hour and 20 minutes disrupted the home team’s bowling plans, leaving Pakistan to chase a revised 189 off 31 overs.
Inconsistency in the bowling department by West Indies led to the visitors coming out on top. Mohammad Hafeez led the way with 59 followed by Misbah-ul-Haq (53 not out) and Umar Akmal (29 not out).
Having tied the first of the three One Day Internationals here on Friday and losing the second on Sunday West Indies is in a precarious position.
Pakistan won the first ODI in Guyana just over two weeks ago and West Indies won the second at the same venue. The scene shifted to the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Friday where West Indies salvaged a dramatic tie. What that means is Pakistan holds a 2-1 lead in the five match series and West Indies needs to win here today (Wednesday) to draw.
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