Umer rocks Windies as last Test still wide open

KARACHI—Pakistan fast medium bowler Umer Gul in a fiery spell took three wickets in ten balls to cause trouble in West Indies batting ranks on day two of the third and final cricket Test at National Stadium Tuesday.
Responding to Pakistan’s first innings score of 304, West Indies made a partial recovery by reaching 114 for four wickets at tea break. Daren Ganga and Runako Morton with 42 and seven runs were respectively at the crease.
22-year-old from Peshawar Umar in a sensational spell of swing bowling, snapped-up the prized-scalp of Chris Gayle, Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan as West Indies slumped from a healthy start of 51 for no loss to 53-3 soon after the resumption.
Umar first had, Gayle caught by Razzaq at mid-on, who took the catch on the second attempt after ball pooped off his hands. Gayle struck seven 4s in his 64 ball knock.
Lara’s off-stumps was sent cart-wheeling two-ball later for duck by Umar Gul as the batsman playing forward was beaten off a lovely inswinger. Sarwan failed to defend his wicket on swing yorker from Umar for seven-ball naught.
Umar Gul had figures of three wickets for 34 runs in inspiring eight overs spell.
After a fall of three quick wickets, Chanderpaul with Daren Ganga added 63 important runs.
Southpaw Chanderpaul went to stunning catch at silly mid-on as batsman tried to clip and was caught by Imran Farhat. Chanderpaul cracked seven hits to the boundary in his 36 off 49-balls in his 66 minutes stay at the crease.
West Indies made a positive start by reaching 42 without loss in their first innings in reply to Pakistan first innings total of 304 by lunch break on the second day of third and final cricket Test against Pakistan at National Stadium Tuesday.
Left handed Chris Gayle, who was dropped by Imran Farhat at covers for 12 off Umar Gul, was shaping well at 31 while Daren Ganga was eight not out at the interval.
Star batsman Gayle, apart from one blemish, batted spiritedly solidly, on a difficult low and slow pitch. He had struck five sizzling boundaries in his 31.
Earlier Pakistan resuming at their overnight score of 257 for 7 seven wickets added 47-runs before dismissed for 304 thanks to fine knock of 26 by Umar Gul.
Talented Gul in company with Danish Kaneria frustrated the West Indian bowlers by sharing a valuable 32-runs for the tenth wicket. Umar was bowled off a vicious inswinger from Powell for 26, hitting five 4s in his 44-ball knock in just an hours batting.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who batted with a runner Imran Farhat after being struck twice on the knee finished seven not out.
Paceman Daren Powell, who went wicket-less on Monday gave his team immediate breakthrough on the second when cleanbowled Shahid Nazir for naught.
Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who started with two swift successive boundaries off Jerome Taylor in his first over of the day, followed Shahid Nazir seven runs later.
West Indies skipper Brian Lara took the second new ball in the 91st over Corey Collympore struck on the first ball by shattering the stumps of Kamran Akmal.
Colleymore finished with three wickets for 57 runs in 21 overs while Daren Powell, who two of three wickets to fall, ended with two wickets for 83 runs in 23.5 overs.
Pakistan team was bowled out for 304 in their first innings on the second day of the third and final cricket Test against West Indies at National Stadium Tuesday.
Kamran Akmal made 31 and Umar Gul got 26. Corey Collympore was most successful bowler with three wickets for 57 runs.—Agencies