Chanderpaul, McLean pull Windies out of woods

The West Indies were quickly undermined by leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed when play began late after an intensive mopping up job by the groundskeepers.

Wasim Akram bowled impressively throughout the day, consistently beating the bat with his each way swing. But the veteran left-arm pacer could not add to his one wicket from Saturday.

Pakistan was well on top as the home team slipped to 139 for six. but Chanderpaul, in front of his home crowd, found a sound ally in fast bowler McLean.

The pair carried the home team safely to 174 for six at tea. After the interval, they pushed past Clive Lloyd and Joel Garner’s 70-run partnership in Bridgetown, Barbabos in 1977, which had stood as a record for the West Indies against Pakistan.

But just as Mclean was in sight of his maiden Test half century. Waqar Younis struck with the fifth delivery with the second new ball.

The 26-year-old Mclean, in his first Test in more than a year, edged a full length delivery to first slip where Inzamam grasped a low catch.

McLean, in for little more than two hours, struck nine boundaries in his 95-balls innings, including three strong blows in one over off Mushtaq Ahmed that took him from 29 to 41.

Veteran fast bowler Curtly Ambrose replaced McLean and stayed with his diminutive partner until the end, to be not out on 2.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (1st innings): Mohammad Wasim b Ambrose 4, Wajahatullah Wasti b Walsh 8, Younis Khan lbw Ambrose 2, Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw King 135, Yousuf Youhana c Jacobs b Ambrose 0, Moin Khan c Adams b King 6, Abdur Razzaq c Gayle b McLean 87, Wasim Akram c Jacobs b Walsh 16, Waqar Younis b McLean 13, Saqlain Mushtaq not out 8, Mushtaq Ahmed c Gayle b Ambrose 4, Extras: (lb 2, nb 3) 5. Total: (all out, 123.3 overs) 288

Fall of wickets:1-12, 2-12, 3-21, 4-21, 5-39, 6-245, 7-262, 8-266, 9-277

Bowling: Ambrose 25.3-10-43-4, Walsh 28-10-46-2 (nb2), McLean 26-5-93-2, King 26-7-57-2, Gayle 9-4-16-0, Adams 9-0-31-0 (nb1)

West Indies (1st innings): Stauart Campbell c Younis Khan b Akram 1, Adrian Griffith lbw Razzaq 34, Wavell Hinds st Moin b Mushtaq Ahmed 34, Jimmy Adams c Younis Khan b Mushtaq Ahmed 20, Shivnaraine Chanderpaul not out 46, Chris Gayle c Akram b Mushtaq Ahmed 13, Riddley Jacobs run out 6, Nixon McLean c Inzamam b Waqar Younis 46, Curtly Ambrose not out 2, Extras: (lb2, nb18) 20. Total: (for 7 wickets in 87 overs) 222

To Bat: Reon King, Courtney Walsh

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-69, 3-79, 4-106, 5-130, 6-139, 7-213

Bowling: Akram 20-6-46-1 (nb7), Waqar Younis 15-3-46-1, Mushtaq Ahmed 32-5-91-3, Razzaq 10-2-13-1 (nb2), Saqlain 10-1-24-0 (nb5)