World Cup 2011 1st Quarter Final Live: Pakistan favourite this Match

Tags: World Cup 2011, 1st Quarter Final Pakistan vs West Indies at Mirpur -Mar 23,2011, Pakistan, West Indies, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Quarter Final

Published on: Mar 22, 2011

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Pakistan takes momentum and confidence into Wednesday's first World Cup quarterfinal against a West Indies team that is lacking both.

Pakistan takes momentum and confidence into Wednesday's first World Cup quarterfinal against a West Indies team that is lacking both.

Pakistan sprung a surprise by finishing atop Group A and relegating Australia to third place by ending the three-time defending champion's 34-match unbeaten run in the World Cup.

West Indies won its three matches against the lower-ranked sides in Group B but was beaten by the three higher-ranked teams and threw away winning positions in its last two games.

Against England, the West Indies went from 222-6 to 225 all out chasing 245 and in Sunday's final group match against India, the last seven wickets fell for 34 runs.

"The good thing is that it's not the knockout stage," captain Darren Sammy said of the group stage failures. "If that happens (from now), then we will be going home.

"It is a worrying thing for us but I still back the caliber of players we have. Once we put our heads down and play each ball on its merit, we could come up with better shots — that's something we must correct, and correct very quickly."

West Indies haven't been helped by injuries, in particular to key batsman Chris Gayle who missed the game against Ireland with abdominal strain and was rested against India as a precaution.

"I know Chris and he won't pass up an opportunity to play in a World Cup quarterfinal," Sammy said. "I don't think he has played in the World Cup quarterfinals. I know he will come out and give his all for the team."

Fast bowler Kemar Roach also sat out the India match but is expected to be fit to face Pakistan. That could leave the West Indies selectors with a tricky decision to make after Ravi Rampaul came in for his World Cup debut against India and collected his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals.

Pakistan, on the other hand, seems unlikely to be tempted to tinker with its lineup after the four-wicket win over Australia on Saturday.

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