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Ul Haq, Shafik keep Pakistan in victory hunt after early Windies burst
Ravi Rampaul and Devendra Bishoo celebrate the dismissal Taufeeq Umar.
By Sean Devers at Providence
When Kemar Roach trapped Mohammed Hafeez LBW after Ravi Rampaul had removed Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali Pakistan were 3-2 and the West Indies on course to registering their first win in 17 Test since they beat England in Jamaica in February 2009.
But Asad Shafik capitalised on being dropped by Darren Bravo at third slip off Rampaul before he had scored at 3-6 to end the day unbeaten on a gritty 40.
He and his Captain Misbah Ul Haq (34*) have so far put together 77 runs on a track which has been keeping low and offering lavish assistance to the bowlers since the opening day as the visitors fought themselves back into contention to post only their fifth win in 22 Test matches in the West Indies since their first tour here in 1958.
Both batsmen survived a torrid time from especially Rampaul who bowled with pace and got movement with the new ball to grow in confidence as their partnership progressed and Bishoo, who made an auspicious Test Debut with four first innings wickets could be the key today as the host look for an early break through.
Scores: West Indies 226 & 152, Pakistan 160 & 80-3.
West Indies, who have never lost a Test series against Pakistan in the West Indies on six previous tours, began the third day on 34-2 in their second innings and quickly lost night watchman Roach (3) to the 13th LBW verdict in the match as the dangerous Ajmal struck at 35-3.
Lendl Simmons (21) was then well taken at short leg off left arm pacer Wahab Riaz at 47-4 and when the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan (11) gloved a ball which bounced from Ajmal to short leg, the West Indies were in serious trouble at 59-5.
Brendon Nash (3) was run out after losing his footing after being sent back by Chanderpaul and Carlton Baugh (7) droved Ajmal impetuously to short mid-wicket and the West Indies were wobbling on 86-7.
Chanderpaul, a veteran of 130 Tests and with 22 tons to his name was joined by Skipper Darren Sammy to see their team to 96-7 by Lunch and a Captain’s knock from Sammy was needed to support Chanderpaul.
However, Sammy failures with the bat continued when he was LBW for 9 off left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman at 99-8 leaving the work of salvaging something from the wreak to Chanderpaul and the tail.
The 36-year-old Chanderpaul, who now has 35 not outs in his illustrious career revels in such situations were fast runs are not a necessity.
Saeed Ajmal celebrates his ninth wicket of the match (AFP).
The dogged Guyanese, who was content to counter the Pakistan spinners, who got the ball to do ‘magic’ on the seemingly under-prepared track, fought with defiant defence.
But when Rampaul (2) gave Ajmal his third five-wicket haul from 10 Test and second in this contest at 104-9, the overall lead by just 170 and Pakistan, who has won 15 and lost 14 of the 44 Test between the two teams, were on top.
But Bishoo who scored an unbeaten 15 in the first innings joined Chanderpaul to share in a Providence record last wicket stand of 48 and frustrate the visitors with sensible batting.
Chanderpaul is not one to usually make a consorted effort to palm the bowling when batting with the tail and yesterday the 25-year-old Bishoo was given his fair share of the strike and showed that if he puts his mind to it he could develop into a genuine all-rounder later in his career.
Ajmal, who bowled 23.5 overs, eventually ended the innings when he got rid of Bishoo, leaving Chanderpaul, who faced 127 balls, unbeaten 14 away from his 56th fifty.
Rampaul (2-24) and Roach (1-16) then provided the small crowd with some early fireworks before Ul Haq and Shafik settled down to put their team back on course and it is left to be seen today how costly the Bravo drop catch will be as Sammy tries to post his first Test win as West Indies Captain.
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