Hafeez, Rehman star in Pakistan's opening win

A century by stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez and a four-wicket haul by Abdur Rehman steered Pakistan to a comfortable 68-run victory over the UWI Vice Chancellor's XI, as the tourists made a winning start to their tour in Castries, St Lucia, on Monday.

The right-handed opener hammered 101 before retiring as Pakistan, winning the toss and batting, reached 287 for seven off their allotted 50 overs at the Mindoo Philip Park. In response, West Indies

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo flayed 63 from 70 balls but the Vice Chancellor's XI came up short at 219-8.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was the best for Pakistan. He used several variations and also got the ball to spin on the slow pitch to end with the impressive figures of 4-27 from 10 overs. Earlier, Hafeez, who had the good fortune of being dropped at backward point by Keron Cottoy in the day's first over bowled by fast bowler Fidel Edwards, took full advantage of his let-off to register 10 fours and two sixes off 93 balls.

He shared an opening stand of 77 with Taufeeq Umar (44) and then added a further 130 for the second wicket with Ahmed Shehzad (49), before retiring on reaching his hundred. Exciting 20-year-old right-hander Umar Akmal lived up to his high billing, entertaining the crowd with flurry of boundaries in contributing an unbeaten 57 laced with eight fours and a six.

Seamer Carlos Brathwaite claimed 3-38 while leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner finished with 2-25.

Miles Bascombe (26) and captain Omar Phillips then added 40 for the first wicket before wickets tumbled to leave the Vice Chancellor's XI on 75-3. Bravo and Bonner, who cracked 43, then posted 48 for the fourth wicket to revive the innings.



The right-handed Bravo, showing little evidence of the injury that forced him to return home from the recent World Cup, struck four fours and two sixes to offer his side hope in a breezy innings. However, he perished to a catch by Junaid Khan running in off the boundary, as he attempting another big hit over long-off.



Bonner followed soon after, also caught in the deep and thereafter left-handers Kevin McClean with 23 not out off 27 balls and Kerron Cottoy with 13 not out added an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 39 in the final eight overs