Hooper's century helps West Indies end dismal tour with a win

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, February 17: Carl Hooper played a captain's knock of 112 not out as the West Indies gained a consolation 110-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final one-dayer here on Sunday.

Hooper's seventh one-day century helped the West Indies pile up 260-5, before Pakistan were shot out for 150 in 40.2 overs in the inconsequential last match.

It was West Indies' first success after four defeats here in the last three weeks. They lost the two Test matches by heavy margins before going down in the first two one-dayers.

The matches, a scheduled home series for Pakistan, were shifted to this desert venue due to West Indies' reluctance to play in Pakistan because of security concerns.

Hooper smashed eight boundaries and four sixes, sharing a 154-run stand for the fifth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (67), after the West Indies were reduced to 61-4.

Pakistani captain Waqar Younis claimed two wickets, including the one of Darren Ganga off the third ball of the match.

Faced with a target of 5.22 runs an over under lights, Pakistan never recovered after the early loss of openers Shahid Afridi and Naved Latif.

Afridi was caught at square-leg off Pedro Collins in the second over and Naved Latif fell in the third, trapped leg-before by Mervyn Dillon.

Half the Pakistani side were back in the pavilion by the 23rd over with only 86 on the board.

Shoaib Malik, who hit an unbeaten century on Friday, made 37 when he was sixth out, bowled by Hooper, to make it 91-6.

Inzamam-ul Haq, dropped to number seven due to his poor form, appeared to be settling in when he was bowled for 27, trying to play a reverse sweep off part-time spinner Chris Gayle.

Gayle also took the last three wickets, including Rashid Latif for 37, to finish with a career-best 4-19.

Pakistan return home on Tuesday to prepare for the final of the Asian Test championships against Sri Lanka, scheduled to start in Lahore on March 6.

The West Indies next host India for five Tests and as many internationals from April 11.