LAHORE, 15 November 2006 — Pakistan won the first Test against West Indies by nine wickets to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday.
It was a well-deserved win for the home team and will do a world of good to restore the confidence of skipper Inzamam ul-Huq and his boys to come out of the trauma following the forfeiture of the Oval Test and the ban of four ODIs on the captain.
Pakistan undoubtedly were the better side and dominated both the batting and bowling departments. Except for a couple of dropped catches and a very simple opportunity of stumping, the performance in the field was also of acceptable level, though there is still room for improvement in their catching.
The home team’s outstanding performance came from their two fast bowlers — young Umar Gul and the otherwise neglected Shahid Nazir, who bowled their heart out to be rewarded with 15 wickets in the match — Gul getting nine and Nazir claiming six.
Before the first Test began the main worry of the Pakistan captain and coach Bob Woolmer was the lack experienced pace where the only experienced bowler was leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. With their regular strike bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif banned for using steroids, Inzamam had no option but to gamble with Gul and Nazir. And how well the gamble paid of. Gul, in particular, showed amazing improvement in this Test and his 5 for 65 in the first innings certainly paved the way for Pakistan’s victory. He was ably-supported by Nazir, who claimed three wickets in each innings of the match.
Pakistan’s batsmen responded equally well with Mohammad Yousuf leading from the front with his formidable 192. He got good support from Mohammad Hafeez (57), Shoaib Malik (69) and Kamran Akmal (78) which helped Pakistan put an imposing first innings total of 485.
When play resumed on the fourth day yesterday West Indies were 74 for three with the Possibility of innings defeat looming large. All hopes were pinned on skipper Brian Lara and former captain Shivnarain Chanderpaul to take the team out of the mess.
The master batsman, who resumed the innings at overnight 28 with night watchman Fidel Edwards, immediately took charge and dominated the proceedings during the entire 150-minute first session of the fourth day. The fact that Edwards did not last long, did not dampen Lara’s spirits. Along with Chanderpaul, he took the total to 188 for 4 at lunch, his own contribution being 88..
Lara turned what was a one-sided contest into an enthralling battle with a classy 122, adding 137 runs for the fifth wicket with Chanderpaul. As long as he was on the crease during the morning session and then for about an hour into the post-lunch period, Pakistan were struggling to control the situation. But his dismissal triggered a familiar collapse as West Indies slumped to 252 for 7 at tea. Part-time spinner Mohammad Hafeez, whose appeal against Lara for leg before was upheld by umpire Simon Toufel, made the all-important breakthrough. The visitors added 64 runs in the second session but in the process lost three wickets.
Chanderpaul, who held on for some more time, although suffering from dehydration, finally played a very lazy and half-hearted stroke to be caught by Younis Khan off Nazir for 81. West Indies were now 278 for 8 with only the bowlers to follow. The tailenders added another 13 runs as the visitors innings closed at 291, leaving Pakistan to score 13 runs to win the match.
Pakistan achieved the target from 5.1 overs but in the way lost opener Hafeez who fell leg before to Corey Collymore to give the fast bowler his only wicket of the match.
