Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar cut loose after surviving early scares, taking Pakistan to 55 without loss in their second innings for an overall lead of 104 at lunch in the second Test against West Indies.
Taufeeq was not out on 39 and Hafeez was unbeaten on 15, hitting 11 boundaries between them, after Pakistan, looking for a series-levelling victory, dismissed West Indies for 223 to grab a first-innings lead of 49.
In between an attractive array of strokes, the two openers gained two reprieves apiece however, helping engineer a bright start to the visitors’ second-innings.
Hafeez was nought, when he edged the fourth ball of the innings – a no-ball – and was caught behind off Kemar Roach, and on 14, West Indies captain Darren Sammy spilled a second low chance at second slip off Ravi Rampaul.
Taufeeq was one in the third over, when he edged Roach to first slip, where Darren Bravo muffed a straightforward chance, and on 13, edged the same bowler to second slip, where Sammy put him down.
Spinner put Pakistan on top
Earlier, Pakistan spinners shared eight wickets among them to dismiss West Indies for 223. Marlon Samuels finished with the top score of 57and added 60 with Ravi Rampaul to frustrate Pakistan after the hosts were reduced to 158 for eight.
Hafeez made the breakthrough when he trapped Roach leg-before playing back and across for a career-best 29, following a valuable ninth-wicket stand.
Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s most penetrative bowler in the brief series, brought the innings to a close, when Devendra Bishoo edged a forward defensive shot, and was caught at slip for one.
Hafeez was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with a career-best three for 23 from eight overs, fellow off-spinner Ajmal ended with three for 56 off 28.5 overs, and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman captured two for 55 from 29 overs.
The visitors trail 1-0 in the two-match Test series, following a 40-run defeat at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing their dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2011.
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