Pakistan 8 for 307 (Youhana 105, Inzamam 74) beat West Indies 277 (Sarwan 87, Chanderpaul 58, Naved 4-29) by 31 runs

A brilliant hundred by Yousuf Youhana took Pakistan into the finals of the VB Series at the expense of Brian Lara and his men. A lot has been written about the inconsistency of the senior Pakistani players on this tour, and the match-winning knock by the vice-captain will put his team in the right frame of mind for the best-of-three finals against the world champions.

Pakistan got off to a slow start, but Youhana and Inzamam attacked powerfully and effectively to take their team close to the 300-mark. Afridi played his part with a couple of hefty blows and the mark was duly achieved. In batting right till the end, Youhana ensured that the momentum wasn't lost.

The West Indies began badly, losing Gayle in the very first over, but the belligerent Powell came hard at the Pakistani bowlers in the company of Sarwan. Unfortunately for the Windies, Powell and later Lara fell just when it looked like they had got their eye in. At 99-3, Pakistan looked in the driver's seat, although the run-rate was very good. Sarwan and Chanderpaul then brought their team back into the game with an exhilarating partnership. At 194-3 from 32.4 overs, it was anybody's game, indeed the West Indies were firmly on track, but the Pakistanis dealt a double blow by dismissing both batsmen within four runs of each other. The Windies fought right down to the wire with Wavell Hinds and Courtney Browne playing some good shots, but Pakistan had shut the door on them with the wickets of Sarwan and Chanderpaul in the space of five deliveries.

If Youhana's hundred inspires his captain to come up with a big one in the finals, it will make for some fascinating cricket.