The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Pakistan inching towards a big total

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Monday, Nov 20, 2006
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Pakistan inching towards a big total

SHARP TAKE: Brian Lara snaps up this offering from Imran Farhat on the first day of the second Test. — Photo: AFP

MULTAN : Opening batsman Imran Farhat led a confident Pakistan top order on Sunday as the West Indies bowling attack struggled on the first day of the second cricket Test.

Farhat (74), Younis Khan (56) and Mohammad Yousuf (56) all compiled half centuries on a grassless Multan Cricket Stadium wicket as Pakistan made a steady progress toward a big total, reaching 263 for four at stumps.

Yousuf hit a straight six and three fours in his 117-ball half century before giving a low catch to Brian Lara at mid-wicket three overs before stumps.

``It isn't easy to play the new ball on the first day of the Test match, but the wicket was good for batting,'' left-hander Farhat said.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, not out on 31, and Shoaib Malik (4), return to the wicket when play resumes on the second day.

Best partnership

Younis Khan and Yousuf shared the best partnership of the day, combining for 87 runs for the third wicket as the West Indies bowlers struggled on a flat pitch.

Younis was out soon after compiling his half century, which included six boundaries in the last session. Runako Morton — one of the two changes made in the West Indies side that lost the first Test by nine wicket — took a catch over his head at gully that gave paceman Jerome Taylor (2-61) his second wicket of the day.

Yousuf, who made 192 in the first Test at Lahore, had a lucky escape on 45 when Daren Ganga failed to hold a hard drive.

Paceman Corey Collymore bowled a disciplined line and length and was economical in his 16 overs for 23 runs, but could not get a wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan made a sound progress under thick cloud cover after Inzamam won the toss and elected to bat at his home ground.

Opening pair Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez (36) put on 83 runs in nearly two hours and confidently played against the new ball pair of Collymore and Taylor.

Light rain during the lunch interval delayed the resumption of play by 12 minutes before Farhat fellto medium fast bowler Dwayne Bravo .

Pakistan made no changes.. The West Indies brought in batsman Morton and fast bowler Daren Powell in place of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Fidel Edwards respectively. — AP

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