West Indies beat Pakistan by 7 runs in Twenty20

Opener Lendl Simmons hit a 31-ball 50 and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo followed up with four wickets to lead a new-look West Indies side to a seven-run win over Pakistan in the one-off Twenty20 match on Thursday.

West Indies included five debutants for their first ever Twenty20 match against Pakistan, with former captain Chris Gayle among the notable absentees.

After West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss, Simmons hit 65 off 44 balls and fellow Trinidadian Darren Bravo added 42 off 33 deliveries to form the backbone of West Indies' total of 150-7.

Pakistan's reply started badly when they lost both openers inside the first four overs and Bishoo (4-17) ripped through the middle order as the visitors fell short at 143-9 off 20 overs.

Umar Akmal top-scored with a run-a-ball 41 but West Indies were in control throughout before a feisty, unbeaten 21 from Saeed Ajmal gave Pakistan late hope.

Pakistan needed 14 off the final over, but fast bowler Andre Russell held his nerve to seal the win for West Indies. Paceman Ravi Rampaul claimed 3-31 to boost the home side.

Captain Darren Sammy was thrilled by the victory in front of his fellow St. Lucians.

"We wanted to start off on a winning note. It shows the preparation we have been putting in at the camp in Barbados and here in St. Lucia," Sammy said. "The guys went out there and played as a team and we came out victorious.

"That was a good start for us and we're just looking to improve coming into the one-day series."

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi complimented his bowlers for limiting the West Indies total after the early onslaught from Simmons and Bravo. He blamed the loss on the batsmen.

"The main thing we were missing was partnerships and we missed an opportunity because it was a very good wicket," Afridi said.

West Indies faltered early after winning the toss when Andre Fletcher fell leg before wicket to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, but Simmons and Bravo revived the innings with a stroke-filled stand that tilted the balance.

Bravo eventually holed out to long-on against Saeed Ajmal's off-spin and when Simmons was run out by Wahab Riaz's slick throw from short third man, the innings lost its momentum.

Abdur Rehman (2-22), Riaz (2-24) and Ajmal (2-35) led the Pakistani bowling.

Sammy struck an early blow for the West Indies when Mohammad Hafeez swung to deep backward square leg at 7-1, and Ahmed Shehzad soon followed when he miscued a pull off Rampaul to mid-on.

Akmal played with freedom but none of the partnerships Afridi needed materialized and West Indies were comfortable winners in the end.

The opening one-day international of the five-match series between the teams is at the same venue on Saturday.