Akram slices through West Indies' innings

ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA, MAY 28. Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram took six wickets to slice through West Indies' first innings on Saturday and leave the third and decisive Test delicately poised.

Akram's haul included a spell of five wickets in 22 balls for one run as West Indies was bowled out for 273 immediately after lunch on the third day, leaving it with a lead of just four runs.

Pakistan then moved to 157 for five at the close in its second innings after losing the first two wickets with only three runs on the board.

This set up an intriguing final after the Tests in Guyana and Barbados were drawn.

``Personally I think 200 would be a good total to have to chase,'' said Akram. ``The pitch is breaking up, there's plenty of turn already and we have two of the best spinners in the world in our side.''

West Indies had appeared set to build a good first innings lead as it resumed on a comfortable 214 for three but instead lost seven wickets for 59.

Skipper Jimmy Adams was first out, dismissed lbw by Waqar Younis without adding to his overnight score of 60, to end a 134 run fourth wicket partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Then Akram began the spell which gave him his 23rd five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

He had Ramnaresh Sarwan, who scored an unbeaten 84 on his debut in the previous Test, lbw for 10 and then wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs lbw for nought.

Before lunch, he also dismissed Chanderpaul, bowled for 89, Curtly Ambrose, caught at backward point by Yousuf Youhana for a duck, and Franklyn Rose, caught by Abdur Razzaq at long leg for 15. He polished off the innings in his first over after lunch when he caught and bowled Reon King for three to finish with six for 61.

But Pakistan was back on the ropes as, once again, it lost early wickets. Imran Nazir, who scored a century in the second Test, was out before Pakistan had scored when he was caught at gully by Sarwan off Courtney Walsh, who quickly added to the five wickets he took in the first innings.

Then Younis Khan, who has had a poor tour, was lbw to Curtly Ambrose for two with the score on three. Mohammad Wasim and Inzamam-Ul-Haq added 46 runs before Wasim was bowled by Reon King with the last ball of the afternoon session, leaving alone a ball which nipped back to take his off stump.

Inzamam, century-maker in the first Test, went on to complete his second half century of this Test, hitting eight boundaries from 82 deliveries in his 124-minute innings.

He departed with a controversial decision after making 68.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Team management shuts the door on media
Next     : Morale-boosting win for Zimbabwe