Fast-bowler Shabbir Ahmed rushed Pakistan to a comprehensive series-tying victory against the West Indies in less than an hour on the final day of the second cricket Test at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
It was Pakistan’s first Test victory in the Caribbean since 1988, and earned them a 1-1 share of the two-match series.
Ahmed took three of the four wickets to fall as the West Indies, tottering overnight on 114 for six in pursuit of 280, were bowled for 143 in 51 minutes.
Ahmed, under International Cricket Council scrutiny for an illegal action, ended with four for 55. Legspinner Danish Kaneria, who ripped apart the home team’s top order on Monday, claimed 5-46.
Kaneria’s 11th five-wicket haul in just 28 Tests earned him the man-of-the-match award.
Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who hit 50 and 117 not out in the win, paid tribute to his bowlers.
”Danish and Shabbir took advantage of this wicket and bowled well,” he said. ”The difference was Danish’s bowling. It was not easy on this track batting on the fourth and fifth day.”
Overnight pair Courtney Browne and Daren Powell stood firm for the first half hour before Kaneria made the break.
Powell smacked a couple of meaty pulls for boundaries off Ahmed, but was given out on 12 by David Shepherd, standing in his final Test, to a questionable bat-pad catch at silly point.
The end came swiftly after that as Shabbir took centre stage.
Browne (10) drove and clipped a thick edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who also pouched a snick from Reon King (four). The Pakistani gloveman ended the two-match rubber with 16 dismissals.
The end came when Tino Best (four) miscued an ambitious drive to mid-off, where Shahid Afridi completed the dismissal. Corey Collymore, who took 11 wickets in the match, was left on seven not out.
West Indies made 404 in the first innings, built on Brian Lara’s 30th Test century. Pakistan made 374 and 309, with Inzamam’s 22nd Test hundred.
Pakistan, still seeking their first Test series success in the West Indies, equalled the 1988 squad under Imran Khan, who also drew the series.
West Indies won the first Test in Barbados by 276 runs, but Pakistan head home with the honours, having rallied to draw the Tests, and whitewashing the one-dayers 3-0, their first success in any series in the Caribbean. — Sapa-AP