In response, West Indies began beautifully, with Chris Gayle driving the first ball he faced straight back past mid off to the fence. That one incident apart however, it was total Pakistan domination. Waqar Younis, settling into a great rhythm early on, got the ball to move both ways in the air, keeping the batsmen confused at all times. Gayle himself was a victim of this, shouldering arms to a peach of an inswinger. The ball started on off, came back in late and struck Gayle plumb in front of the middle stump. Gayle’s boundary was his only scoring shot.

With Waqar being the experienced campaigner, bowling with skill at one end, Shoaib Akhtat was free to open his shoulders and bowl with pace at the other. Steaming in and giving it everything he had, Akhtar hurried the batsmen on their strokes. A couple of well disguised slower balls were slipped in and before long Akhtar struck. Darren Ganga, backing out of a full indipper was straddling the crease when the ball crashed into his pads. A loud shout for lbw was upheld by umpire Darrell Hair. Ganga’s stay at the crease yielded 21 runs.

Just when the West Indies thought they had braved the fiery opening spell and could go in to tea without further damage, Saqlain Mushtaq showed that he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Getting skipper Carl Hooper to play back, the offie got a delivery to fizz through and rap the pads. Hooper, who is one of the better players of spin in this West Indian side, made just 1 and was sent back before he could get his eye in.

At 54/3, with a minimum of 130 overs remaining in this game, West Indies have their backs to the wall.

The day began badly for West Indies, with Pedro Collins flooring a catch in a repeat of his fourth day performance. More than one chance went abegging, but Darren Ganga finally managed to hold onto one when Younis Khan (71 runs, 167 balls, 6 fours) drove forcefully at one. Ganga at long off held a good catch, bringing a valuable knock from Younis Khan to an end.

Taufeeq Umar, whose graceful left-handed drives found many admirers, followed soon after Younis Khan. Playing back and very late to a Dillon delivery, Umar found that his late cut missed and the bowler hit. Umpire Shakeel Khan took his time about the decision, taking a long hard look before giving the batsman out. Umar made 69.

Inzamam ul-Haq (6), a man of great ability, although one who sometimes does not play up to his full potential, was undone by a heave to the onside that caught the toe of his bat and went straight up for substitute fielder Brown to catch inside the circle on the leg side.

When lunch was taken, Pakistan were sitting pretty with Yousuf Youhana (38*) batting with great confidence, supported by Abdur Razzaq (12*)

The left-handed Umar was compact at all times, getting well behind the line of the ball early enough to work it into the gaps for ones and twos. Especially severe on anything that gave him a bit of width, Umar unveiled an array of shots, the best being straight drive back past the bowler that raced to the fence. Umar made his way to an excellent unbeaten 64 (141b, 8 fours), thereby erasing some of the disappointment that would have followed the duck he made on debut.

The only blemish to Umar’s innings was an uncharacteristic hoick with light fading. Less than three overs before the close of play, Umar hit Ramnarine straight down Pedro Collins’ throat at long on. The speedster floored the simple chance, compounding West Indies’ woes.

Younis Khan (61 runs, 145 balls, 5 fours) in contrast to Umar was vigourous in his approach. The lad is strong, and not afraid to give the ball a mighty thump at any time. Particularly comfortable when the fast bowlers dropped the ball short, Younis Khan used the horizontal bat shots to good effect, targeting his favourite on side.

On a pitch that appears to be crumbling just a shade, the West Indian pacemen failed to add to their early breakthrough. Although spinner Dinanath Ramnarine extracted good bounce and turn from the rough, he was well negotiated by the Pakistan batsmen.

The fourth day promises to be an interesting one

The first wicket to fall after lunch was Ridley Jacobs. The stumper’s dogged resistance yielded 31 runs (64 balls, 3 fours) but could not take West Indies further than 236/7. Saqlain Mushtaq, bowling his off spin with teasing flight got one to slip past Jacobs’ pads. The sweeping left hander was bowled around his legs.

The departure of Jacobs saw Shoaib Akhtar demonstrate the art of bowling to tail enders to great effect. The speedster bowled with great accuracy and sharp bursts of pace, breaching the defences of his Caribbean counterparts – Dinanath Ramnarine (0) and Cameron Cuffy (4). Both tailenders could not keep out express deliveries that swung late and screamed past the bat.

When it looked like Akhtar would have a five-wicket haul, Saqlain came to the party, having last man Pedro Collins (1) caught by Inzamam ul-Haq. The fast bowler had to be content with returns of 4/63 while Saqlain scalped 3/75.

In all the ruins, Hooper stood tall. The elegant Guyana middle order bat compiled a patient, workmanlike 84 (182 balls, 9 fours, 1 six), leading very much from the front. Sadly, there was little support for him from the other West Indian batsmen.

Despite having the option to enforce the follow-on, with a lead of 208 Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis elected to bat again. If quick runs were what he was after, Waqar would have been a disappointed man as Shahid Afridi nicked a Dillon delivery through to keeper Jacobs. The explosive opener did not trouble the scorers.

In the 10 overs bowled before tea was taken, Pakistan moved to 28/1, with Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan scoring 14 apiece.

At the crease to start off proceedings were skipper Carl Hooper and nightwatchman Mervyn Dillon. The speedster was sent in as a nightwatchman late on the second day when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dismissed.

The first breakthrough of the third day came when Dillon, trying to work the ball to the on side, edged one to Taufeeq Umar at point. As a nightwatchman, Dillon had fulfilled his role, negotiating 30 balls before being dismissed. The paceman however failed to get off the mark.

Hooper, getting his front foot well down the wicket negated the swing and seam of the Pakistan bowlers well. Helping himself to 64 (137 balls, 8 fours) the West Indian captain held fort at one end.

Ryan Hinds (11 runs, 28 balls, 1 four) meanwhile, showed tremendous promise, playing some flowing drives before he was adjudged lbw against the bowling of the wily and accurate Abdur Razzaq.

Ridley Jacobs, a man who has been involved in many a rescue act for the West Indies was unorthodox but effective in reaching 29 (50 balls, 3 fours) not out when lunch was taken.