Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara believes fast bowler Daren Powell and all-rounder Dwayne Smith played the major roles in the team's opening ICC CWC World Cup victory at Sabina Park yesterday.

Hosts West Indies defeated Pakistan by 54 runs. Lara was quick to make it clear that Powell, who opened the bowling, and Smith, who replaced him at the northern end, took the game away from Pakistan.

"I think the key part of the game was the 20 overs bowled between Smith and Powell from the northern end," Lara, who is in his fifth World Cup tournament, said.

"They both bowled 10 overs straight and between them they shared five wickets," Lara said of Smith who ended with 3-36 and Powell 2-42.

Bowled well

Lara, who also praised Smith for his batting exploits, admitted he was expecting Pakistan to increase their run rate after Powell was bowled out but "Dwayne came and bowled well and picked up the wickets of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf, who are their two best players.

"His performance was very good today and he knows that from here, what he wants to do is to build on it," Lara said of the man of the match.

Smith himself was pleased. "I am really proud of my performance," he said.

Lara also gave credit to Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor, along with Dwayne Bravo who, he said, "picked up as well from the top end (southern end).

Good team effort

"I think those guys performed really well. It was a very good team effort for us," said Lara, who also praised the team's disciplined line and length.

The West Indies only gave away four extras - two wides and two leg byes.

"All and all it was a very good effort from everyone," he said.

As for Pakistan, Inzamam-ul-Haq said they batted poorly.

"It wasn't difficult to bat on the wicket. The wicket was perfectly fine, it's just that we had to stay and consolidate our position in the first 15 overs, which we didn't.

"Two hundred and 40 plus was a gettable score. The bowlers did very well and we thought we could have chased those runs and we should have got those runs, but that's how the game goes.

"The bowlers tried their best but it's unfortunate the score was not what we expected," he said.

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