1st Test: Pakistan v West Indies at Sharjah, 31 Jan-4 Feb 2002 CricInfo Live Report

1st Test: Pakistan v West Indies at Sharjah, 31 Jan-4 Feb 2002
Anand Vasu

West Indies, 2001/02, 1st Test 1st innings: End of innings,
Pakistan 2nd innings: Lunch - Day 4, Tea - Day 4,
West Indies, 2001/02, 1st Test 2nd innings: Stumps - Day 4,
Live Reports from previous days

PAKISTAN SET WEST INDIES STIFF TARGET AT SHARJAH

Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis threw down the gauntlet in the final session of the fourth day's play. After reaching declared in 57.4 overs, an overall lead of 341, Pakistan gave West Indies one day and 10 overs to score the requisite runs for an extremely unlikely win or battle it out for a draw.

This declaration was possible when it was thanks largely to a string of good coctributions, with Inzamam ul-Haq top scoring. Inzamam, who looked his laid back self at the wicket, stroked the ball well, making 48 (56 balls, 5 fours) before becoming Merv Dillon's second scalp. Useful contributions from Abdur Razzaq (29) and yet another clattering innings from stumper Rashid Latif (47 not out, 42 balls, 4 fours) enabled Pakistan to declare on 214/7, setting West Indies a target of 342 for victory.

West Indies openers Darren Ganga (19 not out) and Chris Gayle (5) were sensible enough to negotiate the remaining 10 overs on the fourth day, taking the West Indies to 24 for no loss. This leaves them trailing by 317.

PAKISTANI WICKETS FALL IN SLOW SESSION

After bowling the West Indies out for 366 and securing a first innings lead of 127 runs, the sailing was smooth for Pakistan in the second session of play on the fourth day.

Coming out after lunch with the score on 21/0, the Pakistan opening batsmen seem to have a set plan to play out the best part of the day before launching an attack later on. By the end of the session, however, Pakistan had lost three wickets, reaching 109 after 30 overs. 88 runs in all were scored during the session.

Debutant Naved Latif, who made nought in his first knock here, managed 20 before he edged a Dillon delivery through to the wicket-keeper. Taufeeq Umar, the stylish left-hander, showed glimpses of good form, driving well through the off-side before being needlessly run out. Setting off for a non-existent single, Umar (23) was sent back, only to be found short of his crease.

At 54/2, Inzamam ul-Haq joined Younis Khan out in the middle to steady the ship. The pair were separated just before they could bring up the fifty partnership for the third wicket. Cameron Cuffy surprised Younis Khan (32), and the resultant nick was snapped up behind the stumps.

Inzamam (30) was joined by Youhana, and the pair took Pakistan through to tea without further hiccups. The Pakistani lead at tea is 236, and with one more session to go, they will look to reach a score of 320-plus with one day to bowl out the Windies.

PAKISTAN MAINTAIN DECISIVE UPPER HAND AT LUNCH

After their captain inspired their side to a lead of 127-run lead, Pakistan's opening batsmen safely negotiated a seven-over stint before lunch on the fourth day at Sharjah.

Taufeeq Umar, at the interval, was on 7 off 24 deliveries, while Naved Latif was marginally faster, making 14 off 18 balls with two fours.

Pakistan led by 148 runs with all 10 second-innings wickets remaining, and if the first innings was anything to go by, the West Indian bowlers are going to struggle to bowl their rivals out cheaply enough for their batsmen to successfully chase a victory target.

WAQAR YOUNIS ROCKS WEST INDIAN BATTING LINE-UP

A burst of high quality fast bowling from one of the masters of his art, Waqar Younis sent West Indies reeling from 352/6 to 366 all out. Resuming on 325/5 West Indies found a fired up Waqar too hot to handle. A mixture of loose batting and accurate fast bowling, with the ball swinging late made things very difficult for the Windies.

The first to go was Shivnarine Chanderpaul (66) who dragged one from Waqar back onto his stumps. Ryan Hinds (62) then top-edged a pull when a short ball got too big on him too fast. Merv Dillon interrupted the flow of Waqar wickets when he as run out but the last too could not escape the man that once bowled the best toe-crushing yorkers in the world.

Cameron Cuffy played around a full delivery that clipped his leg stump while Ridley Jacobs swung one straight down the throat of Danish Kaneria at fine leg.

West Indies had lost four wickets in the space of as many runs. Waqar had scalped his four wickets in a 29-ball burst that saw West Indies score just nine runs off him.