Collymore brings swift end to Malik's uneasy Pakistan return

Pakistan 336-6 - West Indies

Younis Khan led a Pakistan revival with his ninth Test hundred after the cheap loss of both openers on the opening day of the second and final Test against the West Indies here yesterday before Corey Collymore evened the balance with a spell of high-quality seam bowling after tea.

After Inzamam-ul-Haq, back as captain after missing the first Test through a one-match suspension, won what his West Indies counterpart Shivnarine Chanderpaul called "a good toss to lose" and batted, Pakistan ended the day 336 for six .

Quick to latch on to any loose offering, Younis stroked 14 fours in 106, sharing successive partnerships of 87 with Inzamam, who was untroubled in scoring 50, and 118 with left-hander Asim Kamal, 51. Pakistan were 43 for two after Yaseer Hamid and Shoaib Malik fell within the first 15 overs before Younis and Inzamam steadied the innings.

Off-spinner Chris Gayle accounted for Inzamam to a sharp slip catch by Devon Smith, Pakistan's only setback in the second session, but Younis and Kamal were building an imposing total at 247 for three 40 minutes after tea, when Collymore intervened. He removed Younis to a sharp gully catch by Wavell Hinds, bowled Kamal off the inside-edge and accounted for Shahid Afridi for 33 to an edged catch to the keeper that always seemed likely.

When Collymore was rested after a spell of three for 33 off 11 overs, the West Indies claimed the new ball and should have had the seventh wicket when wicket-keeper Kamram Akmal edged a catch to wicket-keeper Courtney Browne off Tino Best.

However, umpire Darrell Hair signaled no-ball, even though the TV replay showed the bowler's front foot legally on the front crease.

Pakistan retained fast bowler, Shabbir Ahmed, in their XI, a calculated gamble on the compassion of umpires David Shepherd, the veteran 64-year-old Englishman in his 92nd and final Test, and Hair, who had reported him for a suspect action after the first Test.