Afridi and Younis punish fumbling Windies

Shahid Afridi, who survived four dropped catches, and Younis Khan struck centuries as Pakistan raced to 344 for three on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies on Thursday.

Afridi, recalled to the side in place of Naveed Latif, hit 16 fours and three sixes in his 107, while Younis Khan smashed an unbeaten 131 as Pakistan made the West Indies pay for their sloppiness in the field.

Yousuf Youhana, who was dropped once, was the other not out batsman at stumps, three short of his half century.

The attack-minded Afridi was dropped on four by Ryan Hinds, at 13 by Dinanath Ramnarine, at 29 by captain Carl Hooper and at 79 by substitute Corey Collymore.

"We missed chances and allowed the game to drift in favour of Pakistan," Hooper said. "Had we snapped all those chances that came our way things wouldn't have been different. It hardly matters whether you bowl or bat first. The point is you must play well."

Afridi curbed his tendency to play his shots early in his innings, but later opened up against Ramnarine, dispatching the leg-spinner for 16 runs in one over which included two sixes, before reaching his 100 in 136 balls.

Younis was more circumspect at first, happy to play the anchor role in a second wicket partnership worth 190 runs which was finally broken when Cameron Cuffy bowled Afridi.

Younis reached his half century from 106 balls with four fours but began to attack the bowling after Afridi's departure, his unbeaten 248-ball innings including 12 fours and a six.

Inzamam-ul Haq and Younis Khan took the score from 202 for two to 272 before Inzamam mistimed a pull off Ramnarine and was caught by Hooper at mid-wicket.

Inzamam made 36 off 72 balls with four fours and a pair of sixes off Pedro Collins and Ramnarine.

Yousuf Youhana almost went the very next ball, but wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs put down a simple catch.

Earlier, West Indies made a quick breakthrough when Merv Dillon had Taufeeq Umar caught by Daren Ganga at forward short leg for just eight, but Pakistan were happy to bat first after losing the toss.

"The decision of West Indies to bowl first was a bit surprising for us," Waqar said, adding that he was looking for a total in excess of 500 before declaring.

West Indies, already hit by an injury to Sherwin Campbell, suffered another blow when Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to leave the field after injuring his right thumb while fielding in the morning session.

Pakistan lead the two Test-series after a crushing 170-run win in the first match.

The series is taking place on the neutral territory of the United Arab Emirates after the West Indies expressed security concerns over political tensions on the Pakistan-India border.

Mail Cricket Editor