Multan Test: Pak make Windies toil

MULTAN: Pakistan, powered by half-centuries from Imran Farhat, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, made West Indies toil on the opening day of the second Test on Sunday.

Farhat (74), Younis (56) and Yousuf (56) took their team to a commanding 263 for four but the visitors fought back with two key wickets in the final session. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 31 after Younis and Yousuf both fell to soft dismissals.

Younis, who returned to form with his 16th half-century, was caught in gully by Runako Morton off Jerome Taylor and four overs before stumps, Yousuf played a lazy shot to Brian Lara at short mid-on off Chris Gayle. Yousuf's wicket was a big boost for the visitors, who lost the toss and struggled on a typical sub-continental pitch on which the batsmen could bat freely. The elegant right-hander looked in ominous form, scoring his 26th half-century despite being dropped on 45 by Daren Ganga in the gully off Taylor who took two for 61. Yousuf, who has hit six Test hundreds this year, shared a third-wicket stand of 87 with Younis, who faced 159 balls and hit six fours. They built on a solid foundation of 83 laid by openers, Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez (36).

Farhat, who hit 10 spanking fours, was dropped on 22 in the leg trap by Dwayne Bravo off Gayle before he hit his ninth half-century. "It was a nice pitch to bat on. But one is never comfortable against the new ball and once that period was over I enjoyed batting out there," Farhat said. "It was disappointing to miss out on a hundred as it was a good opportunity. But I am trying to learn from my seniors how to build big innings."

Taylor provided the breakthrough when he got Hafeez to nick behind and Farhat was caught by Lara at second slip off Bravo after lunch. Corey Collymore, despite being his team's best bowler, had a luckless day as he beat the bat regularly without finding the edge. He kept things tight with fine figures of 16-5-23-0.

"The pitch again is made for batting though we bowled in the right areas. We had five chances and we took four of them. When we get the opportunity to bat on it we will want to make full use of it as it is full of runs. There will be some deterioration of course, from bowlers' footmarks," West Indies skipper Lara said.

West Indies decided to play without the experienced, though out-of-form, Ramnaresh Sarwan. "For us it was just a matter of picking what we think was the best team and Sarwan still remains one of our main players -- and he's only missing five days of cricket," Lara added.

Scorecard

Pakistan (1st innings): Mohammad Hafeez c Ramdin b Taylor 36, Imran Farhat c Lara b Bravo 74, Younis Khan c Morton b Taylor 56, Mohammad Yousuf c Lara b Gayle 56, Inzamam-ul-Haq (batting) 31, Shoaib Malik (batting) 4

Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-2) 6
Total (4 wkts, 91 overs) 263

Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-125, 3-212, 4-250

Bowling: Taylor 15-2-61-2, Collymore 16-5-23-0, Powell 12-2-50-0, Gayle 22-6-52-1, Bravo 14-5-30-1, Mohammed 11-1-39-0, Morton 1-0-4-0