Shadab Khan produced the best all-round effort of his white-ball career on Sunday to help Pakistan complete a 3-0 ODI series sweep against the West Indies and raise hopes of a return to peak form.
The leg-spinner took four wickets after hitting a breezy 86 in the weather-affected third ODI and helped the hosts complete an easy 53-run victory.
The match saw dramatic scenes midway through the first innings when a dust storm hit the city, engulfing the stadium and forcing players off the field for more than an hour.
The players returned after the storm blew over, with the match reduced to 48 overs a side. At that point, the visitors had gained the upper hand, reducing Pakistan to 155-5 after 33 overs with captain Nicholas Pooran completing his full quota of overs and taking 4-48 from his off spin. Opener Imam-ul-Haq had scored a brilliant 68-ball 62 but there was a rare failure for batsman Babar Azam, who fell for one off three balls.
After the resumption, the balance tilted in Pakistan's favour. Shadab hit 86 off 78 balls to take Pakistan to 269-9.
Thereafter, Shadab's leg spin fetched 4-62 as the visitors were bowled out for 216 in 37.2 overs, giving Pakistan 30 points in the ODI Super League, a qualification round for next year's World Cup in India.
The clean-sweep lifted Pakistan to 90 points, fourth in the 13-team ODI League table, while the West Indies are fifth with 80.
Shadab dismissed Keacy Carty (33), Rovman Powell (ten) and top-scorer Akeal Hosein, who made a career best 37-ball 60 with six sixes and two boundaries.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz finished with 2-56.
"We execute the plans and are giving 100 per cent in all departments and the results are there to see," said captain Azam, who has now won four out of five series as captain.
"We have different areas of improvements as each of the three games showed. We hope to learn from our mistakes and get better."
It was a welcome return to form for Shadab, who had been struggling with fitness issues over the past few seasons.
"It's difficult after the injuries because the confidence is down. But it feels good to do well," the 23-year-old said. "I bowled better in the first two games but got wickets tonight, thanks to Almighty. But I will try and do better."
It was a memorable day for another Pakistan player. Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani, who made his ODI debut after Shaheen Afridi was rested for the final game, didn’t have to wait long to get his first wicket when West Indies started the chase. Kyle Mayers (5) was caught low at point by Imam in Dahani’s second over as West Indies also struggled against the pace of Mohammad Wasim (1-21).
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
