Windies tighten grip

ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA MAY 27: West Indies captain Jimmy Adams and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul both hit unbeaten half centuries ...

ST JOHN8217;S, ANTIGUA MAY 27: West Indies captain Jimmy Adams and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul both hit unbeaten half centuries to lift their team to a strong position over Pakistan at the close of the second day of the third and final cricket Test here.

The three-Test Cable amp; Wireless series is level at 0-0 following draws in the first two matches in Guyana and Barbados.

Adams was unbeaten 60 and Chanderpaul 68 as the home team closed on 214 for three on Friday in reply to the tourists8217; first inning total of 269.

They came together with the innings at the crossroads at 84 for three. The pair remained solid until the close, adding an unbroken 130 for the fourth wicket in 222 minutes.

Earlier in the day, world wicket-taking leader Courtney Walsh completed his 100th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as the West Indies dismissed Pakistan for 269 in the day8217;s first over.

Both Adams and Chanderpaul emerged from shaky starts against a testing attack to play with some enterprise toward the end of a day extended because of two slight delays for rain.

The 25-year-old Chanderpaul brought up his 50 the ball before the second rain shower off his 132nd delivery. He counted three fours in reaching his milestone, adding three more before the close.

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Adams, in his first season as West Indies captain, followed Chanderpaul to his half-century after resumption. The 30-year-old Jamaican struck four fours in just under three hours, facing 131 balls.

In reply Pakistan, spurred by two wickets from leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, had caused early trouble for the West Indies. Both openers Sherwin Campbell 31 and Adrian Griffith 22 fell in the same over.

Wavell Hinds, coming off scores of 165 and 52 in the previous Test in Barbados, played with confidence before his misjudgment caused his run out.

The Jamaican left-hander had compiled a well-organised 26 off 54 deliveries when he was caught short by bowler Ahmed8217;s throw back to the wicket-keeper as he was sent back by Chanderpaul.

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Pakistan was now rampant, but Adams and Chanderpaul, the two most experienced West Indies batsman, gradually lifted their team out of danger to give their team the edge.

Scoreboard

Pakistan 1st innings; overnight 267-8: Mohd Wasim c amp; b Rose 13, Imran Nazir c Rose b Ambrose 10, Younis Khan c Jacobs b Ambrose 4, Inzamam-ul-Haq c Griffith b Walsh 55, Yousuf Youhana not out 103, Abdur Razzaq c Jacobs b Walsh 2, Moin Khan c Jacobs b Rose 24, Wasim Akram c Campbell b King 26, Saqlain Mushtaq c Campbell b Walsh 4, Waqar Younis c Sarwan b Walsh 4, Mushtaq Ahmed c Jacobs b Walsh 0, Extras: lb4, nb20 24. Total: all out, 91 overs 269

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-27, 3-33, 4-130, 5-132, 6-173, 7-209, 8-247, 9-268

Bowling: Ambrose 14-4-30-2, Walsh 26-2-83-5 nb9, Rose 19-4-48-2 nb7, King 16-3-48-1, Adams 14-2-40-0 nb4, Sarwan 2-0-16-0

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West Indies 1st innings: Sherwin Campbell c Youhana b Mushtaq Ahmed 31, Adrian Griffith b Mushtaq Ahmed 22, Wavell Hinds run out Mushtaq Ahmed/ Moin Khan 26, Shivnarine Chanderpaul batting 68, Jimmy Adams batting 60; Extras: lb3, nb4 7. Total: for three wickets, 83.2 overs 214

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-73, 3-84

Bowling: Wasim Akram 15-3-42-0, Waqar Younis 13.2-4-27-0, Mushtaq Ahmed 24-3-68-2, Saqlain Mushtaq 21-4-44-0 nb3, Abdur Razzaq 10-1-30-0 nb1.