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28 March 2024

Pakistan scent victory over West Indies

Pakistan's captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten century during the second innings on the fourth day of the second cricket Test against West Indies in Basseterre, St. Kitts, on Monday. (AP)

Published
By AFP

Hundreds from Taufeeq Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq followed by purposeful bowling led by Abdur Rehman had Pakistan on the verge of victory over West Indies in the second Test on Monday.

Rehman captured three for 26 from 14 overs, as West Indies, in pursuit of 427 for victory, slumped to 130 for six in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Left-hander Darren Bravo has been the only West Indies batsman that has come to terms with the Pakistani bowlers, hitting the top score so far of 50.

Taufeeq had equalled his career-best of 135 and Misbah, the Pakistan captain, was undefeated on 102, as the visitors reached 377 for six in their second innings before they declared about 45 minutes after lunch.

Taufeeq struck 13 fours from 315 balls in close to seven hours batting, and Misbah stroked 10 fours and two sixes from 141 deliveries in close to four hours.

Devendra Bishoo was the most successful West Indies bowler with two for 149 from 38 overs.

“It is really, really good to score a Test hundred as a captain because the team is always looking towards you for something special,” said Misbah.

“For your own confidence, and the sake of the team, it is really important that you chip in and perform at all stages of the game.

“But we have not won the Test match yet. Until we have taken the final wicket, we have not won it yet.

“It’s still a game of cricket, and we have to finish the game, unless it’s half the job done.”

Tanvir Ahmed made an early breakthrough for the Pakistanis, leaving West Indies 54 for one at tea, when he bowled West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the third over of the innings.

After tea, the visitors made a huge charge for victory, with Rehman playing a leading role, with the wickets of Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the space of five deliveries.

The Pakistan left-arm spinner had Simmons caught at second slip for 24, and Sarwan, the most experienced batsman in the West Indies line-up, was lbw playing back and across for a duck, a decision from New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden, which was changed after it was reviewed.

Rehman added the scalp of Marlon Samuels caught behind for six to leave West Indies 77 for four, but the Pakistanis met defiance from the left-handed pair of Bravo and West Indies vice captain Brendan Nash.

The visitors spent over an hour working away on the West Indies pair before Bravo cracked under the pressure, and was lbw to left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz. He struck two fours and two sixes from 144 balls in close to three hours of batting.

Earlier, Pakistan jammed their foot down on the accelerator, anticipating the declaration after they reached 202 for three at lunch.

Misbah reached his hundred from 141 balls, with a thick edge to third man off Ravi Rampaul for his last boundary to prompt the declaration.

Umar Akmal shared 62 with him for the sixth wicket before Bishoo bowled him for 30, and Mohammad Salman was caught at deep fine leg off Rampaul for eight before the declaration came.

Pakistan trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, following a 40-run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing their dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean.

Scoreboard

Pakistan - 1st Innings 272 (Azhar Ali 67; R. Rampaul 3-68), West Indies - 1st Innings 223 (M. Samuels 57; Mohammad Hafeez 3-23)

Pakistan
2nd Innings (overnight 202 for three)
Mohammad Hafeez b Sammy 32
Taufeeq Umar run out (Sammy) 135
Azhar Ali c Sammby b Bishoo 53
Asad Shafiq c Baugh b Roach 4
Misbah-ul-Haq not out 102
Umar Akmal b Bishoo 30
Mohammad Salman c Roach b Rampaul 8
Tanvir Ahmed not out 4
Extras (w7, nb2) 9
Total (6 wkts declared) 377
Fall of wickets: 1-82 (Mohammad Hafeez), 2-158 (Azhar Ali), 3-167 (Asad Shafiq), 4-296 (Taufeeq Umar), 5-358 (Umar Akmal), 6-367 (Mohammad Salman)
Bowling: Roach 21-6-58-1 (nb1, w1); Rampaul 24.2-6-87-1 (nb1); Sammy 23-3-64-1 (w1); Bishoo 38-5-149-2 (w5); Nash 6-0-19-0
Overs: 112.2

West Indies
2nd Innings (target: 427)
L. Simmons c Mohammad Hafeez b Abdur Rehman 24
K. Brathwaite b Tanvir Ahmed 0
D. Bravo lbw b Wahab Riaz 50
R. Sarwan lbw b Abdur Rehman 0
M. Samuels c Mohammad Salman b Abdur Rehman 6
B. Nash not out 30
C. Baugh not out 7
Extras: (lb6, w1, nb6) 13
Total: (5 wkts) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Brathwaite), 2-59 (Simmons), 3-63 (Sarwan), 4-77 (Samuels), 5-115 (Bravo)
Bowling: Tanvir Ahmed 5-0-10-1 (nb3); Wahab Riaz 7-1-26-1 (nb3, w1); Abdur Rehman 14-6-26-3; Saeed Ajmal 17-4-39-0; Mohammad Hafeez 10-1-23-0
Overs: 53
Position: West Indies need 297 more runs to win with five second innings wickets standing

Umpires: B. Bowden (NZL), A. de Silva (SRI)
TV umpire: A. Hill (NZL)
Match referee: A. Hurst (AUS)
Reserve umpire: P. Nero (WIS)