Lara pleased with opening win

West Indies captain Brian Lara manoeuvres the ball into a gap © Getty Images

West Indies captain Brian Lara believes his side's opening World Cup victory over Pakistan has set his side up for a good tournament.

The hosts launched the 2007 competition with a comfortable 54-run win over Inzamam-ul-Haq's side at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday.

The West Indies successfully defended a total of 241 for nine with Dwayne Smith, who earlier hit 32 from 15 balls, completing a fine all-round performance by taking 3-36.

It was the perfect response by the West Indies after capitulating to 85 all out in a nine-wicket defeat by India in a warm-up match last week.

"A lot of people have looked at the negatives, but I think over the last year to 18 months the guys have worked really hard to improve their game," Lara said.

West Indies celebrate victory over Pakistan on Tuesday

"In the DLF Cup in Malaysia, and in the ICC Champions Trophy in India last year, we got pretty far for a team from whom not much was expected.

"That has a lot to do with what's been happening indoors. The spirit is good. The feeling is good. We have been building up for this tournament, and we are not going to breakdown at this time.

"This is time for us to ensure that everything is at the right level, and we are looking forward to the remainder of the tournament."

The victory sparked huge celebrations among a near-capacity crowd that Lara admitted had provided his side with motivation to play harder.

The 37-year-old said: "You have to be out there to really understand what it's like, since it's probably the biggest crowd at Sabina Park watching the West Indies play, and it's the opening of the World Cup.

"It was a tremendous atmosphere, and as soon as we got on the field, we saw the camaraderie and the togetherness which was excellent.

"I thought in the batting department we looked a bit more nervous, and a little bit more aware of our surroundings that this was the opening match of the World Cup, but once we got onto the field for the second half of the match, the guys looked very professional."

The West Indies made an inauspicious start with the early loss of Chris Gayle but Ramnaresh Sarwan led the revival with a measured 49 before Marlon Samuels weighed in with 63 from 70 balls and Lara added 37.

Lara (front) and Chris Gayle thank the home crowd

Pakistan's response was soon undermined as they slipped to 39 for three and it needed all-rounder Shoaib Malik's 62 to keep them Pakistan in contention.

Inzamam weighed in with 36 and Mohammad Yousuf 37 but Pakistan were eventually bowled out with 16 balls remaining.

Inzamam said: We should have got those runs because I think 242 was a gettable score.”

"We thought we could have chased those runs and we should have successfully chased those runs.

"Yousuf's wicket was crucial, but we lost three early wickets and we could have done well if we had more wickets left at the end."

"We just didn't chase properly and the West Indies bowled a good line and length,” he said.

"Our middle order is a very experienced batting line-up and we should have taken more responsibility in the opening game of the tournament.

“There is some pressure on us now, but we will regroup and come back for the next match.”

Inzamam, who was impressed by the atmosphere in Jamaica, is now looking to record big wins over Ireland and Zimbabwe to make up for their lacklustre start.

“There is something brilliant and magical about playing the West Indies in the West Indies, but we lost the opening game, and this is not very good,” he said.

Pakistan will now need to lift themselves for their remaining Group D games against Ireland and Zimbabwe, but they will still be expected to progress.