Pakistan scent victory over West Indies in second Test

HUNDREDS from Taufeeq Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq followed by purposeful bowling led by Abdur Rehman have Pakistan on the verge of victory over West Indies in the second Test.

Rehman captured 3-26 from 14 overs, as West Indies, requiring a further 297 for victory, slumped to 6-130 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day at Warner Park.

Left-hander Darren Bravo was the only West Indies batsman to come to terms with the Pakistani bowlers, hitting his side's top score of 50.

Taufeeq had equalled his career-best of 135 and Misbah, the Pakistan captain, was undefeated on 102, as the visitors reached 6-377 in their second innings before they declared about 45 minutes after lunch.

Taufeeq struck 13 fours from 315 balls in close to seven hours batting, and Misbah stroked 10 fours and two sixes from 141 deliveries in close to four hours.

Devendra Bishoo was the most successful West Indies bowler with 2 149 from 38 overs.

Tanvir Ahmed made an early breakthrough for the Pakistanis, leaving West Indies 1-54 at tea, when he bowled West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the third over of the innings.

After tea, the visitors made a huge charge for victory, with Rehman playing a leading role, with the wickets of Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the space of five deliveries.

The Pakistan left-arm spinner had Simmons caught at second slip for 24, and Sarwan, the most experienced batsman in the West Indies line-up, was lbw playing back and across for a duck, a decision from New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden, which was changed after it was reviewed.

Rehman added the scalp of Marlon Samuels caught behind for six to leave West Indies 4 77 but the Pakistan met defiance from the left-handed pair of Bravo and West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash.

The visitors spent over an hour working away on the West Indies pair before Bravo cracked under the pressure, and was lbw to left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz. He struck two fours and two sixes from 144 balls in close to three hours of batting.

Earlier, Pakistan jammed their foot down on the accelerator, anticipating the declaration after they reached 3-202 at lunch.

Misbah reached his hundred from 141 balls, with a thick edge to third man off Ravi Rampaul for his last boundary to prompt the declaration.

Umar Akmal shared 62 with him for the sixth wicket before Bishoo bowled him for 30, and Mohammad Salman was caught at deep fine leg off Rampaul for eight before the declaration came.

Pakistan trail 0 1 in the two-Test series, following a 40 run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing their dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean.