Windies Magic - A sensational one wicket win clinches series against Pakistan

ST JOHN'S, CANA: INSPIRATIONAL CAPTAIN Jimmy Adams, steered the West Indies to a nerve-wracking one-wicket victory over Pakistan on the final day of the third Cable & Wireless Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday to win the three-match series 1-0.

Adams batted with his usual grit and determination for a responsible unbeaten 48, which carried the West Indies to their winning target of 216 after Pakistan were dismissed for 219 in their second innings just after lunch on the fourth day.

His disciplined innings which spanned 337 minutes and 212 balls, did not contain a single boundary, but was adorned by 38 singles and five twos.

Starting the day on 144 for four, requiring 72 runs to reach their target, the West Indies got home by the narrowest of margins at 216 for nine.

The West Indies had narrowly claimed a first innings lead when they scored 273 in response to Pakistan's 269.

Adams and veteran fast bowler Courtney Walsh, who defied the Pakistan bowlers for 73 minutes and 22 balls in making four not out as they featured in a match-winning last-wicket stand of 19 runs.

The pair came together with the Windies precariously placed on 197 for nine but inched the Caribbean side to their target with sensible batting.

Adams wisely and skilfully "farmed" most of the strike, especially from experienced left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram, who was consoled with the man-of-the-match award for his superb bowling in both innings.

The 33-year-old Akram almost single-handedly bowled Pakistan to victory, capturing five for 49 in the second to finish with match figures of 11 for 110, the fifth time he has taken ten wickets or more in a Test.

Akram now has 398 wickets, the fourth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history behind Courtney Walsh (449), Kapil Dev (434) and Sir Richard Hadlee (431).

The tension-filled last day was stained with controversy and high emotions as the umpires twice turned down confident appeals from the Pakistanis which television replays suggested should have been out.

By the lunch interval, the West Indies, resuming from 144 for four overnight, were staring at defeat, having slumped to 194 for eight, still needing 22 runs with only two wickets left.

Adams was then on 33 after resuming from his overnight score of 15.

He had a close call in the first over after lunch when a confident appeal for a catch by wicket-keeper Moin Khan off Akram, was turned down by debutant umpire Billy Doctrove.

With the last wicket pair at the crease, Pakistan appeared to be unlucky again when National Grid umpire Doug Cowie of New Zealand turned down an appeal for a bat-pad catch by Imran Nazir from Saqlain Mushtaq's bowling.

At 203 for nine, Pakistan gave the Windies a life-line when Saqlain failed to take a throw from Younis Khan at the bowler's end with Adams and Walsh stranded at the same end.

Afterwards, Adams and Walsh ensured that the West Indies would win their second consecutive series in the Caribbean at home this season, following the 2-0 triumph over Zimbabwe.

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