Johannesburg: It was one of the low-key clashes of the tournament, but as can often be the case, the Pakistan-West Indies encounter helped unearth fresh heroes.
For 26-year-old Gavin Tonge, the medium-pacer from Antigua, just playing for the West Indies would have been a huge event. To go on and shine like he did will lift the spirits of a team that has frequently been described as second string.
If Tonge's rippling spell of 9-3-18-4 reduced Pakistan to 76 for 5 and made their lowly 133 seem more threatening than it was, it set the stage perfectly for the 19-year-old Umar Akmal, brother of wicketkeeper Kamran, to show that he was here to stay.
Akmal put together a nerveless and entertaining 41 and walked away with the Man-of-the-Match award after shepherding his team to a five-wicket win. "When we were struggling a bit, the coach and captain gave me a boost, they told me to bat positively," said Akmal. "I did that and it worked. I am delighted with the way I batted."
Tonge was also quick to take umbrage at his team being called second string. "Each guy has performed to be here, and we are here to compete."
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