Hooper: 40 not out
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, (Reuters):
WEST INDIES wasted much of their early initiative with the ball yesterday as their batsmen ended the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at 164 for four.
In reply to the imposing Pakistan first innings of 472, West Indies trail by 318 and need a further 109 to avoid the follow on.
Yet, during the first two sessions, West Indies hit back with a much-improved bowling performance to remove the last seven Pakistan batsmen for just 108 runs.
Pakistan, well placed at 364 for three, were dismissed for 472 midway through the afternoon, with pace bowler Cameron Cuffy taking four for 82 and all-rounder Abdur Razzaq left not out 64.
Cuffy, celebrating his 32nd birthday in style, ran through the Pakistan tail with an inspired spell of 5-0-27-3 shortly after lunch.
He removed Saqlain Mushtaq (five), Shoaib Akhtar (four) and Danish Kaneria (0) in four overs to thwart any chance of late runs from the Pakistan lower order.
The overnight pair of Younis Khan, for 153, and Yousuf Youhana, for 60, were both removed before lunch as Pakistan laid the platform for a substantial total.
Youhana added another 13 to his overnight score of 47 before he was bowled by paceman Mervyn Dillon, having hit 10 fours in 84 balls.
In partnership with Younis, he had put on 92 runs for the fourth wicket.
Younis, playing with determination and conviction, surpassed his previous test best of 149 - made against New Zealand in Auckland last year - but he was dismissed soon afterwards.
The Karachi batsman, 131 overnight, miscued an intended pull off Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga made no mistake with the catch at mid-off.
Younis had been at the crease for a little under seven hours, striking 15 fours and a six in 291 balls.
The in-form Rashid Latif, who top-scored with 150 in the first innings of the first test, went cheaply, scoring just 16 off 33 balls before falling to the spin of Dinanath Ramnarine.
West Indies, who missed several chances in the field on day one, were much more disciplined on the second day.
Their bowlers, backed up by smart ground fielding, maintained an accurate line and made it difficult for the Pakistan batsmen to score freely.
In reply, West Indies lost the early wicket of Chris Gayle for six, bowled by a fiery Shoaib Akhtar, but then recovered as Daren Ganga and Wavell Hinds added 69 for the second wicket.
Hinds was bowled by the off-spin of Saqlain Mushtaq for 25 and Ganga, shaping to play a long innings, was removed by Shahid Afridi's wrist-spin for 65.
He had scored an attractive 65 off 115 balls with 10 fours.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, for 16, was the fourth to go to leave West Indies on 159 for four but captain Carl Hooper, not out 40, and nightwatchman Mervyn Dillon, yet to score, guided them safely to the close.
Pakistan lead the two Test-series after a crushing 170-run win in the first match.
The series is taking place on the neutral territory of the United Arab Emirates after the West Indies expressed security concerns over political tensions on the Pakistan-India border.
