Pak set for big score to grab 2nd Test

MULTAN—The West Indies halted Pakistan’s run spree by dismissing in-form Mohammad Yousuf in the closing stages of the first day of the second Test at Multan stadium here.
Yousuf miscued a drive off spinner Chris Gayle and was caught by Brian Lara for 56 to leave Pakistan on 263-4 at stumps on Sunday. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 31 with Shoaib Malik not out on four.
The home team, one up in the series, were progressing well after opener Imran Farhat (74) and Younis Khan (56) joined Yousuf in free run-scoring as Pakistan looked set for a big first innings score, before Gayle struck.
With just three overs to go before stumps, Yousuf’s dismissal brought some consolation for the tourists’ bowlers who struggled on a flat pitch after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat.
Yousuf was once again lucky as he was dropped on 45 by Daren Ganga off a miscued drive to fast bowler Jerome Taylor. Ganga dropped Yousuf off the same bowler on 43 in the first Test when the batsman went on to make 192.
Yousuf capitalised on the crucial miss by reaching his 26th half-century in the next over which included three fours and a six off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed, but fell six runs later. He added an invaluable 87 runs for the third wicket with Younis.
Taylor, who finished with 2-61, had his tail up after he dismissed Younis soon after tea. Younis failed to get an uppish shot over the gully and was caught by Runako Morton. Younis and Yousuf built on a sound start of 83 by Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez (36).
Taylor, who picked 4-115 in the first Test, provided the breakthrough when he forced an edge off Hafeez’s bat to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin. Pakistan reached 109-1 at lunch with Farhat notching up his ninth half-century.
Heavy rain delayed the resumption of play after lunch by 12 minutes but once players returned to the middle the tourists removed Farhat for 74. Farhat, who hit ten boundaries during his 177-minute knock, edged Dwayne Bravo to slip where Lara held a regulation catch.
Younis provided able support to Yousuf and reached his 16th Test half-century with his sixth boundary off Taylor. Pakistan remained unchanged from their first Test line-up which they won by nine wickets in Lahore last week.
But the tourists surprisingly left out their out-of-form vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who had scored only one fifty in the last 14 matches and managed just three and 23 in the first Test. Paceman Fidel Edwards was also axed to make room for batsman Runako Morton and fast bowler Daren Powell.
Middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul overcame a stomach disorder and is playing his 100th Test. Chanderpaul became the eighth West Indian and 42nd cricketer in the world to play 100 or more Tests.
Courtney Walsh (132), Lara (130), Vivian Richards (121), Desmond Haynes (116), Clive Lloyd (110), Gordon Greenidge (108) and Carl Hooper (102) were the others who have played more than 100 Tests for the West Indies.—Agencies