http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, 2nd Test
Pakistan seem to have given themselves a chance with a much improved batting performance in the second test match that is currently underway at Warner Park, in Basseterre. While it may not have been the strongest or indeed anything close to a classic test
match batting display, it was a huge improvement from the transitional Pakistan side that helped them to a strong position with a decent 272 run total.
A fine display by the spinners had the West Indies all out for 223 runs which left http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 with a solid 49 run lead as they went out to bat in the second innings. Yet, the first innings display did little to ease the worries and fears the Pakistan fans
had of another, what is now a trademark, Pakistan batting collapse.
The Pakistani batsmen, however, responded well with the top order holding their own in the game and by the end of the close of the third day of play, they had their side sitting comfortably at 202 for the loss of three wickets. The stars of the show on the
day were Azhar Ali and Taufeeq Umar.
Azhar Ali followed his solid 67 run knock in the first innings with another fine half century in the second when he went on to score 53 runs from 90 deliveries. The Pakistan batsman seemed composed and very rarely presented the opposition with a chance of
claiming his wicket. Azhar cruised along at a strike rate of 58.88 and very rarely ventured out in an attempt to play the big strokes as he cleverly paced his innings with singles and doubles.
It was a disappointment when he was dismissed by Devendra Bishoo, the West Indies bowler who made his debut on the first test of the series, when the West Indies skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJG-Sammy-c1382, made no mistake with the catch.
To some extent his job had been done as he set up a solid platform for the Pakistan side with 76-run partnership with opening batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taufeeq-Umar-c92889. While it may not be that impressive on paper, as the better test match partnerships often last much longer,
it was a solid display and one that the side needed in the wake of their poor batting performance in the last test.
While Azhar Ali may have been dismissed and sent on the long march back to the pavilion, Pakistan’s opening batsman, Taufeeq Umar, was making the most of having retained a place back in the side with a 97 run unbeaten knock by the end of the day’s play.
Pakistan needed their senior players to put up a show and Taufeeq Umar did just that. His partnership with Azhar Ali was crucial but what was even more important was that he was still at the crease when his partner departed.
If he had lost his wicket at that time, then a collapse would have been on the cards for his side, instead, he made another solid partnership with his skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972. Umar will be searching for his century when play resumes on the fourth day of the
second test match, but more importantly he will be focused on giving his side a solid lead that their bowlers can hopefully defend as they looking for their first Test match win under Misbah-ul-Haq.
Tags: