Pakistan cruise to victory

After the highs of reaching the ICC Champions Trophy final, the West Indies have been brought crashing back down to earth in the final itself and this, the first Test match since the final.

The tourists were blown away by Pakistan in the first three days. Umar Gul (5-65) and Mohammad Yousuf (192) had particularly enjoyed themselves and alot rested on the great Brian Lara’s shoulders as he strode out this morning with the tourists at 74-3. He resumed his innings on 28 not out with nightwatchman Fidel Edwards as company. Lara didn’t disappoint. 27 runs were scored in the 30 balls before Edwards (10) edged Shahid Nazir to Younis Khan.

At that point Lara was joined by the other lynchpin of the West Indian batting, Shivnarine Chanderpaul. With the West Indies still 178 behind, these two needed a big partnership for the hosts to even need to bat again. The pair obliged to make a game of it, putting on 137. Lara’s 122 gave the West Indies some hope, well supported by Chanderpaul. His 33rd Test century could have be larger, but Lara conceived to get himself out sweeping Mohammad Hafeez’s part time off breaks. The ball straightened and struck Lara on the pad and Pakistan were back in control.

Had Dwayne Bravo or Dinesh Ramdin got in and supported Chanderpaul like they could do, the West Indies could have had a realistic chance of winning the game. As it was both got out cheaply. Umar Gul trapped Bravo lbw for 2, and Danish Kaneria soon sent Ramdin following, having scored 1 less.

Chanderpaul’s gritty innings of 81 finally ended when he top edged Shahid Nazir and Yousuf took the catch. Dave Mohammed provided a short cameo of 15, but Nazir and Gul shared the last two wickets to dismiss the West Indies for 291, leaving Pakistan needing 13 to win. Gul’s 4 wickets gave him match figures of 9-164, showing there’s life after Asif and Akhtar, Pakistan’s banned fast bowlers.

Pakistan eased to the target of 13, but Corey Collymore bowled 3 good overs, getting opener Hafeez (1) lbw as a reward for his toils in the match. The hosts will go into the second Test at Multan full of confidence. The tourists will need to draw some inspiration from Lara before Sunday.

West Indies 206 all out (56.1 overs)
Brian Lara 61, Dave Mohammed 35
Umar Gul 5-65, Shahid Nazir 3-42

Pakistan 485 (146 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 192, Kamran Akmal 78, Shoaib Malik 69
Jerome Taylor 4-115, Dave Mohammed 3-98

West Indies 291 (94 overs)
Brian Lara 122, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 81
Umar Gul 4-99, Shahid Nazir 3-63

Pakistan 13-1 (5.1 overs)
Imran Farhat 8 not out, Mohammad Hafeez 1
Corey Collymore 1-2

Pakistan win by 9 wickets