Pakistan made an early breakthrough, but Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo held firm as West Indies reached 66 for one at lunch on the first day of the opening Test.
Mohammad Hafeez - opening the bowling - claimed the scalp of West Indies opener Devon Smith, but Simmons, not out on 30, and Bravo, not out on 23, carried the home side to the interval without further loss after they decided to bat.
Off-spinner Hafeez bowled the left-handed Smith for 13 in the sixth over of the match, with a well-pitched straight delivery.
But Pakistan’s strategic move to start with Hafeez reaped limited success, as Bravo joined Simmons and put on 51 for the second wicket.
Pakistan hemmed-in the two West Indies batsmen with four close fielders, and runs came at a premium for most of the morning period.
Both sides have included a Test newcomer in their starting teams with the hosts playing leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo while wicket-keeper Mohammad Salman making his debut for Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2011.
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