Thu, 12 May 2011 - Pakistan vs West Indies, Pakistan Tour of West Indies 2011, 1st Test - Bulletin

West Indies humble Pakistan in see-saw battle

West Indies finally managed to register a significant test win in more than two years as they overcame Pakistan by 40 runs in a gripping test match at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Captain Darren Sammy starred in the remarkable win with a five wicket haul in the second innings.Debutant Devendra Bishoo’s contribution with the ball in the first innings enabled them to take a healthy first innings lead that actually set up this win.This victory provided the sparse crowd present in the ground a rare opportunity to feel happy, especially after all the controversies in the recent past that have marred West Indies cricket.

Sammy and Co. bowled nagging lines all throughout the innings, giving nothing away. Ravi Rampaul played a vital role by removing four key wickets including the settled overnight batsman Asad Shafiq. Although, Pakistan looked in control with two good partnerships, but the Windies bowlers proved to be too much for their brittle batting line-up. The Windies bowlers without experimenting a lot put the ball in the right areas allowing the pitch that was full of surprises to do the rest.

The day began with the match hanging in balance; both teams had equal chances of going 1-0 up. The hosts took the first step as Rampaul removed Asad Shafiq with an absolute beauty, a vicious in-cutter sneaked between bat and pad to take the middle stump out of ground. Shafiq went for a composed 42. In came, flamboyant Umar Akmal who has a reputation of losing calm in pressure situations. However, he curbed his natural instincts and combined with his captain Misbah to take Pakistan to a good position- 135 for 4 with 84 more needed.

At this point, Pakistan were favorites but Darren Sammy had other ideas. First, he removed his counterpart with another in-ducker; it was 18th LBW decision of the match (the most ever). Two balls later, Mohammad Salman followed his captain in the same manner, caught in front by another delivery swinging towards the pads. Suddenly, Pakistan were 135-6 and the end looked near. Abdur Rehman and Akmal prevented any further damage till the lunch break. The visitors need 66 more runs to take the honours while as four wickets separate West Indies from a famous victory.

After the break, Rampaul gave West Indies the crucial breakthrough, the dogged Rehman tried to play a fullish ball outside off-stump but only managed poke it to the second slip.After that, it was just a matter of when rather than how. Umar Gul failed to keep out Sammy’s potent weapon, an in-swinger on a good length and as expected was LBW. Umar Kamal also followed the same path in the West Indian Captain’s next over, this was the last nail in Pakistan’s coffin. He then returned to knock over Saeed Ajmal as the crowd erupted in wild celebrations.Umar Akmal tried his best to take his team near the target but could only score 178 in the last innings.

No doubt, the match was dominated by bowlers, but Pakistan were let down by their batsmen in both the innings. West Indies however would feel the last wicket stand in their second innings between Bishoo and Chanderpaul; made a big difference in the end.

With this win, the home team has taken an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the two test series and with the second test starting in a week’s time, the visitors batting needs to approach the game with lot more purpose if they want to avoid a white wash.

Day 4: Lunch – West Indies in front after Sammy double-strike

The day began with the match hanging in balance; both teams had equal chances of going 1-0 up. The hosts took the first step as Rampaul removed Asad Shafiq with an absolute beauty, a vicious in-cutter sneaked between bat and pad to take the middle stump out of ground. Shafiq went for a composed 42. In came, flamboyant Umar Akmal who has a reputation of losing calm in pressure situations. However, he curbed his natural instincts and combined with his captain Misbah to take Pakistan to a good position- 135 for 4 with 84 more needed.

At this point, Pakistan were favorites but Darren Sammy had other ideas. First, he removed his counterpart with another in-ducker; it was 18th LBW decision of the match (the most ever). Two balls later, Mohammad Salman followed his captain in the same manner, caught in front by another delivery swinging towards the pads. Suddenly, Pakistan were 135-6 and the end looked near. Abdur Rehman and Akmal prevented any further damage till the lunch break. The visitors need 66 more runs to take the honours while as four wickets separate West Indies from a famous victory.

Match in balance after Pakistan fightback

Pakistan mounted a gritty rearguard towards the end of day’s play to save themselves from an embarrassing defeat against West Indies. At one point they were 3 wickets down for just two runs in their second while chasing 219, Windies bowlers were on top and were asking some tough questions.

Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq got together to bail their team out of this difficult situation and by the end of day’s play the visitors had 80 runs on the scoreboard, 139 still required with seven wickets in hand. The match is evenly poised as both teams would be feeling that they have a chance of going 1-0 up in the two match series.

However, this looked highly unlikely when Windies controlled proceedings during the middle session. The West Indian last wicket pair of S Chanderpaul and Devendra Bishoo put up some resistance in the shape of a dogged last wicket stand, the duo adding a priceless 48 runs to frustrate the Pakistan bowlers in 22 hours of attritional cricket.

This after the Windies batsmen once again failed to negotiate the both-ways spin of Saeed Ajmal and lost five wickets in the opening session, they had resumed the day on 34 for 2.

A single run was added to the overnight total when night watchman Roach was dismissed by Ajmal. Then the hosts began to slide as wickets fell in quick succession. They scratched their way to 96 for 7 at the stroke of lunch, the overall lead stretching to 160 runs.

Pakistan also began the day knowing that only quick wickets can save the day for them. They exactly did that and the spin of Saeed Ajmal once again was the chief weapon in their hands.In the post lunch session too wickets fell quickly, Captain Darren Sammy caught plumb in front to a Rehman delivery that came in a bit instead of spinning away.

Rampaul also did not trouble the scorers for long and had only 2 runs to his name when he became off-spinner’s tenth victim in the match, the always smiling bowler was elated with his maiden 10 wicket haul in a test match. Although, the pitch offered some help to the bowlers, Ajmal’s achievement was no mean feat; his ability to keep it there and thereabouts combined with his well camouflaged doosra make him such a dangerous bowler.

Windies were 9 down in their second innings when their resurgence began and for some time they were all over Pakistan. Bishoo and Chanderpaul partnership gave them a big total to defend on this deteriorating track Although, Bishoo was dismissed at the stroke of tea, he scored a resolute 24, and veteran Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on a boundary less knock of 36 runs.

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