Youhana, Latif lead
Pakistan run-riot

Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif hit a career-best 150 and Yousuf Youhana made 146 as Pakistan flogged the West Indian attack in the first cricket Test in Sharjah on Friday.

The pair put on 204 for the sixth wicket to lift Pakistan from a shaky 178 for five on Thursday to 493 all out an hour after tea on the second day.

The West Indies, needing 294 to avoid a follow-on, made a brisk start with openers Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga scoring 54 in 18 overs without being separated before stumps.

Left-handed Gayle, dropped by Shoaib Akhtar on 37, was unbeaten at close on 41 with the help of seven boundaries. Ganga was on 11.

Latif, whose previous best in 27 Tests was 94 against Bangladesh earlier this month, finally compiled his maiden Test century and moved to 150 (16x4, 2x6).

The prolific Youhana, who hit an unbeaten 204 in his previous Test innings against Bangladesh, continued his good form to score his ninth century and the third in four matches against the West Indies.

The pair together lifted the gloom in the Pakistani camp after they were reduced to 178 for five in the final session of the first day.

"It was a very important partnership," Latif said. "Its good to get a century at last, now I hope more will follow."

Youhana, who played fluent strokes on both sides of the wicket, said wicket was easier for batting on the second day.

"The ball came on nicely unlike the previous day when it was stopping a bit," he said.

The West Indians had themselves to blame for allowing Pakistan to break free, dropping Latif twice on second day.

Gayle put down a catch in the slips in the day's third over, while Sherwin Campbell spilled a skier at mid-on after Latif had moved to 133.

Fast bowler Mervyn Dillon was rewarded for his hard work with three wickets in 42 overs which cost 140 runs.

Gayle, brought on by a frustrated captain Carl Hooper as the seventh bowler, picked up the last three wickets with his slow off-spin, including the vital one of Latif.

Youhana and Latif batted through the entire morning session to lift Pakistan from their overnight score of 230 for five to 378 without further loss by lunch.

The West Indies broke through in the second over after lunch when Youhana edged a defensive stroke off Cameron Cuffy on to his stumps.

Youhana, who walked in at 80 for three, held his end up for six hours during which he hit 18 boundaries and a six.

There was, however, no respite for tiring West Indians as Saqlain Mushtaq (17) helped Latif add 56 for the seventh wicket.

Latif himself went soon after tea when he was bowled by Gayle, who also dismissed Shoaib Akhtar in similar fashion and ended the innings with a return catch off last man Danish Kaneria.

Shoaib hit a run-a-ball 20 and captain Waqar Younis remained unbeaten on 25 as the last five Pakistani wickets added 315 runs. The morning session was extended by 30 minutes to accomodate an hour-long lunch break for Friday prayers.

Mail Cricket Editor