KINGSTON, Jamaica, 7 June 2005 — Bad light suspended play before tea on the fourth day of the second and final Test between Pakistan and West Indies in Jamaica yesterday.
Set to score 280 runs to win, West Indies were 38 for one when the umpires offered the light to Devon Smith (16) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (6).
West Indies lost the wicket of opener Chris Gayle (15) caught by Yasir Hameed at third slip off Shabbir Ahmed with the total on 27.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq remained not out on 117, his 22nd Test century, when last man Danish Kaneria was caught and bowled by Corey Collymore when play resumed after lunch. Pakistan were bowled out for 309 in their second innings with Corey Collymore taking four for 56 and Tino Best four for 46.
Pakistan lead by 277 runs despite a career best four-wicket spell from fast bowler Tino Best.
Best who had bowled inconsistently and without luck earlier in the match came back strongly in the morning session.
He took the wickets of Shahid Afridi (43), Abdul Razzaq (2), Kamran Akmal (1) and Shabbir Ahmed (0) to reduce Pakistan from 267 for four to 280 for eight.
Pakistan lost four wickets in 33 balls for just 13 runs but Inzamam stood firm with his fourth hundred against the West Indies.
Resuming on 223 for four, Inzamam continued to make the home side suffer for dropping him off the first ball he faced on Sunday from Corey Collymore, reaching his century from 164 balls with 12 fours.
It was also Inzamam’s second successive hundred following the 167 against India in Bangalore in March in his 100th match.
Suspended for the first Test in Barbados for excessive appealing by his team in the Test in Bangalore in April, Inzamam resumed on 64 and batted with relative authority on a pitch with variable bounce.
His only blemish came when on 92 he was caught behind by Courtney Browne off Reon King off a no-ball. He put on 73 valuable runs with fellow overnight batsman Afridi who hit the first ball of the day for a six.
Best had Afridi caught at mid wicket by Devon Smith and then bowled Razzaq with an inswinger.
He had Akmal caught behind by Browne and bowled Shabbir to finish with four for 44.
King bowled Naveed ul-Hasan for nought off an inside edge in between.
Jones Cleared Over Disputed Catch
In London, England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has been found not guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct following a controversial incident during the recently concluded second Test against Bangladesh.
On Saturday at Durham’s Riverside ground, Bangladesh Nafees Iqbal, on 15, gloved a ball from all-rounder Andrew Flintoff through to Jones and started to walk off.
However, replays suggested the ball may have bounced in front of the Kent keeper. Iqbal twice turned back toward the crease in what seemed like an attempt to resume his innings.
An uncertain episode eventually saw him given out after the on-field umpires decided not to refer the matter to the replay official and so ended a fifty stand, then Bangladesh’s best of the series.
The tourists were incensed and Bangladesh manager Latif Khan brought the charge against Jones, 28, who was born in Papua New Guinea but grew up in Australia.
However match referee Alan Hurst, the former Australia fast bowler, found Jones not guilty of conduct that brings the game into disrepute at a post-match hearing on Sunday following England’s innings and 27-run win that gave them the two match series 2-0.
“On the evidence presented, the actions of the player did not breach the ICC Code of Conduct. Video evidence of the incident was inconclusive, and the player’s intent was not proven,” said Hurst.
The charge against Jones, whose Welsh parents helped ensure his England qualification, was a Level One offence on the ICC scale.
All Level One breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.
Hurst reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by Latif Khan, Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, Iqbal, England coach Duncan Fletcher and Jones.
England and Bangladesh meet again in the opening match of the triangular one-day series, also featuring Australia, at The Oval on June 16.
