Thirteen wickets fell yesterday and the West Indies managed to regain control of the first Test match against Pakistan based on invaluable contributions from Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul and skipper Darren Sammy.
Bishoo, on debut, led the West Indies charge to preserve his team’s 226 first innings total with 4-68 from 25 overs, effectively pumping life back into the spectators that turned up at the Guyana National Stadium. Pacer Rampaul contributed 3-27 from his 17 overs while Sammy chipped in with 2-16 from 12 overs as the Pakistanis were routed in 64.4 overs for 160, 66 runs behind the home side.
Pakistan’s main scorers were Abdur Rehman with an unbeaten 40 which included four boundaries from 104 balls, Azhar Ali with 34 from 73 balls with five fours and Umar Akmal, who scored 33 from 75 balls. When the Caribbean team took to the crease a second time they reached 34-2 from 10.5 overs before bad light stopped play.
Lendl Simmons and night watchman Kemar Roach were at the crease on 18 and four respectively. Opener Devon Smith fell victim for the second time in the match and fourth in the Digicel Home Series to spinner Mohammed Hafeez, lbw for one, and Darren Bravo was lbw to Saeed Ajmal for eight.
The day started with the West Indies on their overnight score of 209-9 from 90 overs with Roach on 16 and Bishoo on 10. The pair continued vigilantly for the next eight overs, eeking out 15 more precious runs before Roach was caught by Ali off the bowling of Ajmal, who ended with 5-69 from his 33 overs; Bishoo was left stranded on 15.
Pakistan’s turn at the crease was a torrid one especially with the pitch offering prodigious turn and uneven bounce for the faster bowlers. Rampaul drew first blood in the third over when he bowled Hafeez, attempting to cut a delivery too close to his body, for four when the score was five.
Despite this early loss, Taufeeq Umar and Ali settled in and posted a 52-run partnership before Umar was adjudged lbw to Sammy, whose bowling has shown some improvement over the past three matches. He also snatched the wicket of Ali, who was bowled for 34.
The West Indies steadily began gaining the ascendancy as the Pakistan batsmen struggled against the spin of Bishoo, with his probing and mesmerizing spell that sometimes gave wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh trouble to gather. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq was his first Test scalp, lbw for two, when the score was 60.
Asad Shafiq (2) played forward to another Bishoo delivery that straightened and was given marching orders after the review by the third umpire. The decline was rapid, prompting Sammy to set an attacking field with two slips and two men at bat/pad.
Bishoo’s intelligence and variations took centre stage and before long Mohammad Salman was referred to the third eye and was given out for four as Sammy got it right on all occasions he went upstairs for the referral.
The slide stopped temporarily for Tea, with the score on 113-6 from 47 overs. However, after that interval Bishoo would break the 47-run partnership off 108 balls between Akmal, caught behind by Baugh, and Rehman.
With the bowling showing some potency, Rampaul returned to wrap up the tail with the help of Roach, who collected figures of 1-40 from his 10.4 overs.
