BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Pakistan's bowlers hit back strongly in the second
test against West Indies on Saturday, reducing the hosts to 94-4 at tea in reply
to a defiant 272.
Fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed, who had earlier hit a career-best 57 in a last
wicket stand of 78 for Pakistan, made an early strike and claimed 1-13 on the
second day.
Mohammad Hafeez (1-0), Wahab Riaz (1-49) and Saeed Ajmal (1-14) also claimed
wickets.
West Indies were reduced to 0-1 when Lendl Simmons edged Tanvir's second
delivery into the hands of Taufeeq Ahmed at second slip.
Kraigg Brathwaite, the 18-year-old player making his debut, got off the mark
with a sweet square drive but only reached 15 before he chased a wide delivery
and was also held at second slip by Taufeeq. This time, left-armer Wahab Riaz
was the successful bowler.
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Darren Bravo dragged their side from 22-2 with a stand
of 32.
But Pakistan's spinners removed both before the interval.
Sarwan, who struck three fours off 32 balls, was stumped off Ajmal. His
attempted on-drive deflected off inside edge and pad through to wicketkeeper
Mohammad Salman, whose swift work found Sarwan out of his ground.
Bravo compiled 24 off 87 balls but never looked convincing as he and Marlon
Samuels added a further 40 for the fourth wicket.
The left-hander fell on the stroke of tea, popping a catch to gully from the
third delivery bowled by all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.
Samuels, who hit four fours, was an unbeaten 21 off 45 balls.
Earlier, Tanvir and Ajmal defied West Indies in a last-wicket stand of
78.
The tourists, resuming on 180-6, slumped to 194-9 inside the first half hour
at Warner Park. But the two tailenders played enterprisingly to steer Pakistan
to respectability.
Tanvir smashed 10 fours in a maiden half-century before he was last man out.
The fast bowler faced 96 deliveries in 105 minutes.
Ajmal was equally resilient in an unbeaten 23 off 79 balls. The offspinner
struck four fours and a top-edged six over third man.
West Indies began the day brightly as captain Darren Sammy induced Abdur
Rehman (3) to edge through to the wicketkeeper.
Next ball, Devendra Bishoo struck as Salman (13) chipped an on-drive to
mid-on where Samuels pouched a fine, low catch.
Riaz was soon dropped by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh off Kemar Roach but could
not make use of his let off. He fell through the same combination before he had
scored, and West Indies sensed a swift kill at 194-9.
But Tanvir, in his fourth test, batted sensibly despite a few edges flying to
vacant areas, and forged a firm resistance with Ajmal.
Their stand reached 78 off 151 balls before Bishoo returned to claim an lbw
as Tanvir played off the back foot.
Ravi Rampaul, the early destroyer on day one, finished with 3-68 while Bishoo
claimed 3-80. Sammy took 2-70. The Canadian Press.
