Gayle's ton not enough

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP):

Despite a battling century by West Indies captain Chris Gayle, Pakistan won the third and final One-Day International by 31 runs to sweep the series 3-0 staged in the United Arab Emirates.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan reached 273-6 in its 50 overs thanks mainly to a well-paced innings of 101 by Younis Khan and an unbeaten 79 by Misbah-ul-Haq.

Gayle hit 122 for his 18th One-Day International hundred and second of the series following a 113 on Wednesday, but that could only take his team to 242 before they were bowled out in the 47th over.

Gayle was dropped by Ajmal off Umar Gul when on three and later by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal off Ajmal when on 34.

There was also drama when Gayle was on 99, Akmal twice appealing for a catch in Anjum's 39th over. The first looked doubtful, but the second seemed a clear edge on television replays. Even Gayle appeared to be walking, but the umpires thought otherwise and the West Indian captain survived. Gayle was finally dismissed in the 44th over when the third umpire ruled he was caught behind off Gul.

Taylor was the most successful West Indies bowler with 2-50, while Powell, Lionel Baker, Miller and Gayle took one wicket each.

Shoaib Malik, who was retained as Pakistan's captain for the upcoming visit of India early next year, was happy with the result.

Very good team effort

"This series win is very special for us as this is perhaps the first time in the last three years that we have won three successive matches," he said.

"I am very happy for the entire team as this was a very good team effort. The batsmen, led by Younis Khan and Misbah, put up a good total and then all our bowlers bowled well. This win will put us in a good frame of mind for the important series against India."

Gayle was disappointed and said his team needed to do the basics right if they were to win matches.

"We had three centuries in three matches and ended up losing all three," he said. "It is very disappointing because we were close to winning the series but made some small mistakes here and there. We have a series against New Zealand next and we need to get our basics right."

The balance of the match veered from one side and then to the other during West Indies' innings. With the new ball swinging, West Indies openers Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon could add only eight runs in the first five overs.

Once Chattergoon was dismissed, Gayle added 151 runs for the second wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (62) and Pakistan almost looked out of the match. But Malik brought back Rao Iftikhar Anjum for a second spell and that did the trick. Anjum finished with 4-59, but his figures were 4-16 in five overs at one stage as West Indies slumped from 168-1 to 193-6. But Gayle clobbered him for two huge sixes and a four in the 43rd over and the match again swung in West Indies' favour.