Hinds toys with Pakistan attack

BRIDGETOWN, MAY 20. Left-hander Wavell Hinds scored a memorable maiden century, his magnificent 165 providing the West Indies with a distinct advantage over Pakistan at the close of day two in the second cricket Test.

The home team on Friday closed on 283 for five, 30 ahead of Pakistan's first day total of 253.

The 23-year-old Hinds, in only his fourth Test, came to the wicket in the day's fourth over after Adrian Griffith was an early casualty. When Hinds finally fell just before the close, he had struck 24 meaty boundaries to all parts of the Kensington Oval in just over six hours at the crease. The Jamaican faced 236 balls in scoring his fifth first-class century.

It was the first time in 23 Tests that a West Indian No. 3 batsman had reached three figures. Self-exiled former captain Brian Lara was the last man to achieve the feat back in 1997 against Sri Lanka in St. Vincent.

While Hinds' innings formed the backbone of the West Indies reply, he was ably assisted by opener Sherwin Campbell, who scored 58 off 122 balls in just over three hours. The pair responded positively to the loss of Griffith after resuming on two without loss, putting on 133 for the second wicket in 163 minutes.

Hinds gave the positive lead, getting off the mark with two powerful boundaries in one over off fast bowler Waqar Younis.

Campbell aggressively followed suit, pulling Waqar and his fellow pace great Wasim Akram for sixes in successive overs.

The pair (Hinds and Campbell) went to lunch at 113 for one, a productive morning session realising 111 runs in 26 overs. Campbell struck four 6s and four 4s before he dragged Saqlain Mushtaq's off-break onto his stumps half way through the day.

Pakistan then managed to remove the two most experienced West Indies batsmen cheaply either side of tea, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Jimmy Adams failing to pass double figures.

Chanderpaul got a brute of a bouncer from Abdur Razzaq and gloved to wicketkeeper Moin Khan, while Adams was unlucky to be given out to a slip catch off Saqlain as he missed his drive at an off- break that really spun.

Adams had seen his fellow Jamaican Hinds to his century just before tea, Hinds lifting Saqlain straight overhead for his 16th boundary to reach the landmark. He immediately removed his helmet, swung his bat in the air triumphantly to salute the appreciative crowd of about 9,000.

When Adams fell, at 213 for four, Pakistan sensed it had an opportunity, but Hinds maintained his onslaught and found another solid ally in young Ramnaresh Sarwan.

W.Indies 345 for 8

BRIDGETOWN, MAY 20. West Indies was 345 for eight at lunch in its first innings against Pakistan on day three of the second Test on Saturday. R. Sarwan (55) and Reon King (0) were at the crease.

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