A series-levelling victory

Pakistan crush West Indies by 196 runs in second Test to end tour on high note.

BASSETERRE:

Abdur Rehman finished with career-best figures and shared the last five wickets with fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal to usher Pakistan to a series-levelling 196-run victory in the second Test against West Indies.

Rehman captured four for 65 and Ajmal took three for 79 as West Indies, in pursuit of an improbable target of 427, were dismissed for 230 in their second innings about 15 minutes before lunch on the final day at Warner Park.

The match came to an anti-climatic close, when Kemar Roach failed to beat Wahab Riaz’s direct hit at the bowlers’ end, and was run out for 12, after indecision about taking a single with Devendra Bishoo.

Pakistan’s win meant the two-Test series was tied 1-1, after West Indies claimed a 40-run victory in the first Test.

Pakistan captain  lauds spirit

“I think one thing is good about this side, especially this bunch of guys, is that they have a real true fighting spirit,” said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq. “That helped us to get back into this game, and win to tie the series.”

Misbah noted it has been difficult playing so much away from home because of safety concerns, but they were many positives to this sad reality.

“We are getting more experienced playing in foreign conditions and we are learning more and more about how to adapt ourselves. I think it has also helped our team unity because the guys are getting stronger and are still performing well.”

Misbah also hailed the fielding of his side in the match, a transformation from the first Test, when they dropped close to 10 catches.

Sammy rues lost momentum

West Indies captain Darren Sammy signed-off with a boundary-studded 41, but viewed the outcome as an opportunity lost for his side to prove that they have truly turned a corner in their woeful performances in recent times.

“We had good momentum coming into this game, but we lost that when Pakistan’s last wicket pair put on 78 in the first innings,” said Sammy. “But we just did not score enough runs in this game. We are not happy with this, or the way we have batted throughout the series.”

Off-spinner Ajmal, whose 17 wickets earned him the player-of-the-series award, struck in the third over of the day, when he had left-hander Brendan Nash caught without addition to his overnight 30.

Rehman dismissed Carlton Baugh Jr for 18 when he had a second lbw decision successfully reviewed. After this, it was just a matter of time before the end came for West Indies.

Biggest wins

341 runs v Ind in 2006

301 runs v SL  in 1994

299 runs v NZ in 2001

266 runs v WI in 1977

244 runs v WI in 2001

222 runs v SL in 2000

204 runs v SL in 1982

199 runs v WI in 2006

196 runs v WI in 2011

186 runs v WI in 1986

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2011.