Kaneria rips heart out of WI batting

Pakistan, who lost the first Test of the series in Barbados by an embarrassing 276 runs, were spearheaded by Kaneria (4-36) as they reduced the home side to 114 for six at the close of a rain affected day. The West Indies now require 166 runs for victory today with all of the frontline batsmen back inside the pavilion.

Kaneria, who was treated with disdain by the Windies batsmen in the first Test and also in the first innings of this match, chose the second innings to gain his revenge and wreak havoc on the Windies top order, picking up the key wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan (8), Brian Lara (0), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (0) and Devon Smith (49), to leave West Indies facing the 13th defeat of their last 20 matches.

The wicket of Lara was especially sweet revenge for Kaneria who had felt the brunt of Lara’s broad MRF bat. Lara was caught behind playing a shot to a ball which turned on the champion batsman’s legstump and the faint edge induced.

Pakistani joy at this time was evident as the West Indies’ batting talisman trudged towards the dressing room without waiting the verdict from the umpire. At the fall of Lara’s wicket, the crowd at Sabina Park fell quiet.

The other two wickets went to pacers Shabbir Ahmed, who provided the initial breakthrough by having Chris Gayle (15) caught in the slips playing at a rising ball and the tireless Abdul Razzaq who got Wavell Hinds (19) in the same manner just before the close.

Wicket-keeper Courtney Browne (9) and Darren Powell (4) were still at the crease at stumps. Pakistan’s inspired bowling, helped by two delays for bad light and showers, brought them close to their first Test win in the West Indies since 1988.

Savaged by Lara in the series, the 24-year-old Kaneria got his revenge with the wickets of Sarwan, Lara himself and Chanderpaul in nine balls after West Indies had reached 48 for one.

His deadly spell left the innings in tatters at 56 for four.

Earlier on, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq - who was let off on Sunday by West Indies wicketkeeper and vice-captain Courtney Browne when he had not scored a run, hit a vital, unbeaten 117, his 22nd century in 101st Tests, as Pakistan stretched its second innings from an overnight 223 for four to 309 all out just after lunch.

Tino Best lifted the West Indies with a career-best haul of four for 46. Corey Collymore polished off the innings to end with four for 56 and match figures of 11 for 134, the best ever on the ground.

Browne’s dropping of Inzamam was one of the main talking points among radio commentators during play yesterday.

The West Indies start play today virtually a beaten side with only Browne and Powell at the crease and bowlers’ King, Collymore and Tino Best still to come.