SPEARHEADED by their rejuvenated pacer Ravi Rampaul, the West Indies enjoyed a fruitful first day in the decisive second Digicel cricket Test at Warner Park here today.
The 26-year-old Rampaul led a disciplined West Indies’ bowling performance which left Pakistan reeling on an unsatisfactory 180 for six off 73.2 overs at the end of a rain-shortened opening day.
Rampaul finished the day with fine figures of 18.2-3-40-3 after making three early strikes, dismissing Pakistan’s openers Taufeeq Umar (11) and Mohammed Hafeez (8) as well as Asad Shafiq, without scoring.
Captain Darren Sammy (1-50 off 20 overs) and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (1-55 off 19 overs) supported Rampaul as Pakistan’s woes were compounded when their topscorer Azhar Ali was run out for a responsible 67 just before the close. His innings contained seven fours and spanned 196 balls and 239 minutes.
Ali and the talented Umar Akmal, who batted fluently for 56 off 88 balls with four fours and a six, had resuscitated the ailing Pakistan innings with a fifth-wicket partnership of 93 runs in 105 minutes.
But both fell within nine runs of each other in the last half hour, to hand the initiative back to the West Indies.
The West Indies, who lead the two-match series 1-0 following their 40-run first Test win in Guyana, are without the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul because of a sore shoulder.
But prolific 18-year-old Barbados schoolboy opener Kraigg Brathwaite was presented with his maiden cap by manager Richie Richardson, making him West Indies’ fifth youngest ever Test cricketer.
Play will start half hour early tomorrow morning because fading light ended the first day’s action, in which there were four stoppages for rain, with 14 overs remaining. Â
Â