Saeed Ajmal, Devendra Bishoo, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJG-Sammy-c1382, Ravi Rampaul impress: Pakistan v West Indies - 1st Test
With the first of the two Test matches between West Indies and Pakistan concluded, one can take a look at the players that had a significant role in the way proceedings panned out. It was not what one would call a classic, in terms of Test matches as only
one innings saw the score top the 200 run mark. Couple that with the fact that the match was over in less than four days, and it certainly will not live long in the memory.
Yet, there were a few standout performances with the ball that at least for some will be worth remembering. Saeed Ajmal’s 11 wicket haul was one of those as the veteran Pakistani spin bowler took his first ever five wicket haul in Test cricket in the first
innings and then took his personal figures up to another level with six scalps in the second innings.
The bowler was on fire as he ripped through the opposition batting line-up, restricting the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 batsmen to just 226 runs in the first innings. It was an impressive bowling display from the entire side but Ajmal’s extra bite in terms of taking wickets
when it mattered meant that the 33-year-old bowler would earn more plaudits.
If anyone thought Ajmal would be content with taking five wickets and relax in the second innings, they were sadly mistaken as he took six wickets and halted the Windies at a 152 runs to give Pakistan a real chance in setting up a first ever series win against
the West Indies in Test matches.
Yet, it was not to be as the West Indies’ trio of Skipper Darren Sammy, debutant Devendra Bishoo and strike bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 crashing in similar fashion in both innings. The three bowlers
were instrumental in both keeping their side in the match after a poor batting display in the first innings and then ultimately, leading their side to victory in the second.
It was Bishoo who took charge in the first innings as he claimed four Pakistan scalps in an impressive debut, including that of the opposition captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972. He ended the first innings with admirable figures of 25 overs bowled, six of which were
maidens, giving away 68 runs for his four wickets.
Supported well by his skipper, Darren Sammy would take two wickets in the first innings and a game changing five wickets in the second. Sammy led by example and inspired a fight back when it seemed Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal were going to salvage the game
for the Pakistan side as he dismissed both batsmen. Sammy finished the match with seven wickets, each of them crucial.
Ravi Rampaul also had a role to play as he made amends with a devastating second innings performance after being ineffective in the first half of the match. He single-handedly dismissed the top three Pakistan batsmen with the score card reading just two
runs.
In the end, the first test was all about two quality bowling attacks as the batsmen failed to put on a show for the fans, yet it will be interesting to see whether or not it will be more of the same in the second test.
Tags: