A DAY?made a whole world of difference to the West Indies team in this first Digicel Test cricket match.
Defending what seemed an insufficient 226 on first innings, they turned apparent disadvantage into a first innings advantage of 66.
And by the close of the second day, the lead had stretched to exactly 100. The Windies closed on 34 for two; Devon Smith (one) and Darren Bravo (eight) being the casualties.
Today’s play could be pivotal, the stage on which someone can make himself a hero.
Yesterday, however, one man grabbed the spotlight.
Leg-spinner Devenrda Bishoo, on his Test debut, made his neighbours in Doctor’s Bush in the village of Albion proud as he led a rout of the Pakistanis with a haul of four for 68.
“It was nice performing in Guyana, my home,” he would say later. His only disappointment was that neither his father [deceased] nor his mother [absent] were present to see him mix control and variation to telling effect on a track that helped him.
Bowling 25 overs without a break save for lunch and tea, Bishoo was the little engine that kept the West Indies going, the hub around which his fellow bowlers operated to good effect.
Ravi Rampaul, who began Pakistan’s troubles by getting Mohammad Hafeez to bottom edge a delivery into his stumps in the third over; enjoyed his best day of Test cricket, getting three wickets for only 27 runs in 17 overs.
Only captain Darren Sammy himself was more miserly, taking two wickets for 16 in 12.
The skipper has had to endure much criticism of his play and questioning of his credentials since taking up the job seven months ago. But he was not just part of the supporting cast in yesterday’s effort.
Recognising the advantage of bowling wicket to wicket on this strip, he removed Nos. 2 and 3, Taufeeq Umar (19) and Azhar Ali (34, five fours) early in the second session.
Umar was trapped lbw by the captain, a decision by umpire Tony Hill that was upheld by the umpire decision review system (UDRS).
But there was no doubt about Ali’s demise.
He completely misjudged a delivery that cut back and struck his exposed off stump.
Bishoo had someone at the other end to maintain the pressure while he wheeled away. And he and Sammy really took the day away from Pakistan in the post-lunch period.
Pakistan skipper Misbah ul-Haq was just as in the dark as Ali when he played back and missed a flipper which removed him lbw.
It was a wicket to remember for Bishoo, as much for the manner as for the fact the opposition’s best batsman was also his first victim in Test cricket.
The little man got a warm congratulatory hug from his captain. And by the time tea arrived, Sammy would be pressing flesh with Bishoo again as the visitors stumbled to 113 for six.
Asad Shafiq was adjudged leg before wicket to Bishoo, but only after Sammy had called for a review of umpire Billy Bowden’s decision. That made it 66 for five.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman also went. This time a review upheld Bowden’s call.
By this time, Sammy had removed himself from the attack after a 12-over spell. He was replaced by Kemar Roach. But the pace spearhead is off his game these days. Yesterday he was too short and inconsistent.
Rampaul was also guilty of overdoing the bouncer.
As a result, Paksitan rallied somewhat, the aggressive Umar Akmal (33, four fours) posting an even 50 for the seventh-wicket with Abdur Rehman.
At that stage, the Windies could have done with a fifth bowler. But Bishoo made another timely intervention with the total on 130.
After tea, Akmal spoiled what had been a useful effort by top-edging a pull off the leg-spinner and providing wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh with a straightforward catch.
Bishoo was now on four wickets and poised to become the tenth West Indian to get five on debut. He didn’t make it.
In what proved his final spell of the innings, Rampaul finally got a wicket with a short ball, having Umar Gul caught by Baugh hooking. He also claimed Saeed Ajmal lbw on review.
Finally, Roach replaced him and captured the wicket of last man Wahab Riaz via a catch to the keeper.
