West Indies steadied
by middle order

The West Indies, with useful contributions from the middle order, reached a respectable 325 for five, 168 behind, at close of play on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday.

Pakistan made 493 in their first innings on Friday with 150 from Rashid Latif and 146 from Yousuf Youhana.

The West Indians survived some anxious moments before building their innings around half-centuries from Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Carl Hooper and Ryan Hinds to suffocate Pakistan's hopes of taking control of the match.

Things looked tricky for the West Indies when they lost their first five wickets for 231 runs. But Shivnarine Chanderpaul and debutant Ryan Hinds defied the Pakistan attack with a determined display of batting during their unbeaten 94-run association for the sixth wicket.

Seasoned campaigner Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 45 and Ryan Hinds on 55 when stumps were drawn.

West Indies, resuming from their overnight score of 54 for no loss, landed in early trouble when Saqlain Mushtaq struck a double blow in the space of six deliveries to remove both the openers.

Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle had prospered in an 88-run stand for the opening wicket in 202 balls when the premier Pakistan off-spinner trapped Ganga in front of the wicket for 20.

In the very next over, the Surrey player bowled Gayle. The left-hander, dropped by Shoaib Akhtar on 37 on Friday, played fluently for his 68 off 117 balls with 12 fours in 148 minutes before he missed the line of a straight delivery from Saqlain.

WINDIES WOBBLE

The quick fall of a tentative Sherwin Campbell, who is making his comeback to the team after a two-year hiatus, left the West Indies wobbling at 126 for three.

An unruffled Wavell Hinds, however, held the innings together in the company of skipper Hooper.

Wavell Hinds posted his 50 with a four off Danish Kaneria and celebrated the feat with a huge six off the very next ball.

Just when he began shaping well for a big innings, he had a sudden lapse of concentration.

The batsman stepped out for a big heave, but Kaneria bowled the wrong one to deceive the left-hander and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif made no mistake in removing the bails.

Hinds made his 59 off 99 balls with 10 fours and one six.

Hooper took charge after his exit, sharing a 51-run stand with Chanderpaul.

Like the earlier premier batsmen, Hooper also failed to register a big innings after having his eyes in, falling lbw to Abdur Razzaq at the stroke of the tea break which was taken at 231 for five.

Hooper made 56 off 103 balls with eight fours.

In the last session, the most fruitful for West Indies, Chanderpaul and Ryan Hinds scored 94 runs to keep their side in the hunt.

Chanderpaul's 45 came in 203 minutes during which he faced 130 balls and hit five fours, while Ryan Hinds took 131 minutes for his 55 which contained six fours off 106 balls.

Mail Cricket Editor