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Cricket
Despite Hooper's grit West Indies is struggling
By Dicky Rutnagur
SHARJAH, FEB. 9. In the 12 Test matches since assuming the West Indies captaincy, Carl Hooper has not been able to inspire his team to reach any great heights but today, he made a valiant 84 not out, spread over 270 minutes, in a bid to save the follow on in the second Test against Pakistan.
Despite Hooper's effort, during which he passed the 5,000-runs mark in Test cricket, West Indies failed by nine runs to reach the follow on mark. But, with 15 hours and 40 minutes or, alternatively, a minimum of 226 overs, left in the match, Pakistan chose to bat again. At the close, when it had faced 48 overs, Pakistan had scored 130 for one to build an aggregate lead of 338.
Waqar Younis might have decided differently had the outcome of the two-match series depended on this game. But Pakistan holds an 1-0 lead and although West Indies in three innings has shown no signs of flourishing with the bat, Waqar must have felt that it would be easier to bowl out the opposition with fresh bowlers when the pitch becomes more worn.
Pakistan struggled at first to pick up momentum and Shahid Afridi, driving airily at a widish ball from Mervyn Dillon, was an early victim. But by the end, Tawfeeq Umar and Younis Ahmed had the measure of a frustrated West Indies attack.
The West Indies innings, resuming at 164 for four, lasted until midway through the post-lunch session, although the only partnership of any substance was between Hooper and Ridley Jacobs for the seventh wicket. The wicket-keeper, with 31, was the major contributor to this stand of 47.
Before they became associated, Mervyn Dillon was claimed by Shoaib Akhtar with the aid of a brilliant catch by Taufeeq Umar, at gully, and Ryan Hinds, who batted with poise and assurance for 35 minutes, fell in an unfortunate manner, adjudged lbw by the Australian umpire, Darell Hair to a ball from Abdur Razzak that pitched outside leg-stump.
The ball before had been superbly on-driven for four by the young left-hander, who looks a good prospect. At his departure, West Indies was 189 for six, needing another 84 to avoid the follow on.
At lunch, Hooper and Jacobs had been together for 16 overs and when on the resumption, Waqar Younis kept Shoaib Akhtar in harness, it was apparent that he was not inclined to enforce the follow on.
Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who bowled from the other end with a crosswind blowing from leg to off, was at odds with his rhythm and overstepped repeatedly. But the problem did not stop him getting wickets. It was he who broke the Hooper-Jacobs partnership.
Leaving his leg stump exposed in going across to sweep, the left-handed Ridley was bowled behind his legs. Saqlain also accounted for last man Pedro Collins. But in between Shoaib, who finished with four for 63, made short work of Dinanath Ramnarine, whom he yorked, and Cameron Cuffy.
The scores:
Pakistan - 1st innings: 472
West Indies - 1st innings: D. Ganga b Afridi 65, C. Gayle b Akhtar 6, W. Hinds b Saqlain 25, C. Hooper (not out) 84, S. Chanderpaul c Youhana b Kaneria 16, M. Dillon c Umar b Akhtar 0, R. Hinds lbw b Razzaq 11, R. Jacobs b Saqlain 31, D. Ramnarine b Akhtar 0, C. Cuffy b Akhtar 4, P. Collins c Inzamam b Saqlain 1, Extras (b-6, lb-9, nb-6) 21, Total (in 84.5 overs) 264.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-88, 3-116, 4- 159, 5-170, 6-189, 7-236, 8-237, 9-247.
Pakistan bowling: Waqar 9-1-24-0, Akhtar 18-4-63-4, Kaneria 13-2-34-1, Saqlain 21.5-4-75-3, Afridi 15-0-34-0, Razzaq 8-1-19-1.
Pakistan - 2nd innings: S. Afridi c Jacobs b Dillon 0, T. Umer (not out) 64, Y. Khan *not out) 61, Extras (lb-4, nb-1) 5, Total (for one wkt. in 48 overs) 130.
Fall of wicket: 1-0.
West Indies bowling: Dillon 9-2-32-1, Cuffy 10-3-19-0, Collins 5-0-21-0, R. Hinds 12-3-15-0, Ramnarine 12-1-39-0.
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