Windies make bold reply

Lara’s unbeaten innings of 125 was the cornerstone of the Windies innings, in a mirror image of the first Test win in Bridgetown, as the hosts reached 275 for four at stumps against Pakistan. The Windies were looking down the barrel when Pakistan resumed their first innings on the second day at 336 for six, with a total in excess of 400 very much within their sights. But Collymore ran through the Pakistan tail — with only wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal (49) offering any resistance — to finish with magnificent figures of seven for 78 as Pakistan were dismissed for 374.

As the pitch began to show signs of variable bounce, Akmal was unlucky to be out lbw to a ball from Daren Powell which kept viciously low. Once Asim Kamal (51) had gone, the rest followed quickly, and Chris Gayle accepted the task of chasing down the total with customary panache — hitting a bemused Naved-ul-Hasan for three fours off the opening three balls of the innings.

Gayle was undone by a fine delivery from Abdul Razzaq having smashed 33 off just 22 balls, and Devon Smith followed shortly as he too fell victim to the demons in the pitch.

Lara came together with Ramnaresh Sarwan and began to painstakingly build a partnership in the afternoon session.

Lara’s dual with Danish Kaneria was at times heated, but there was no doubt who gained the upper hand in the afternoon session, with Lara putting his foot on the accelerator just before tea and smashing two towering sixes over long-on just before tea. Sarwan was altogether more serene, scoring a neatly-made 55 off 137 balls before top-edging an attempted hook off Shabbir Ahmed with the score on 205 — a partnership of 146.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul came to the crease to join the former skipper, and the two experienced campaigners put on a fourth-wicket stand of 70.

However, the day finished on a low for the recently-appointed West Indies skipper, as he edged a well-pitched delivery from Kaneria into the grasp of Akmal for 28 on the last ball of the day.