Youhana's resistance revives Pakistan

Pakistan 230-5 v West Indies

Yousuf Youhana restored Pakistan's flagging innings with typically measured defiance on the opening day of the first of the two Tests of their relocated series against the West Indies here yesterday.

Renewing acquaintances with opponents off whom he took successive hundreds in the last two Tests of their previous encounter in the Caribbean almost two years ago, Youhana was unbeaten on 78 and Pakistan 230 for 5 at close after gaining the benefit of the toss.

Fewer than 500 die-hards watched the tough grind, confirming that this is strictly a one-day cricket town. In spite of a pitch as hard, dry and agreeable for batting in its inaugural Test as it usually has been for the 181 one-day internationals the venue has previously staged, Pakistan were faltering at 94 for 4 an hour after lunch. They were checked by Youhana's diligence and successive partnerships with Abdur Razzaq and the wicket-keeper, Rashid Latif.

He added 82 with Abdur and 52 by close with the adventurous Rashid, who thumped the last two balls of the day for boundaries. Abdur was well set with 34 when Wavell Hinds attracted a wild drive that produced a catch for the wicketkeeper, Ridley Jacobs. Rashid spent the last hour and 10 minutes of the day gathering 27 unflustered runs.

The West Indies wasted a chance to dispose of Yousuf 20 minutes before stumps. He was 70 when Merv Dillon, using the second new ball, induced a false shot that lobbed a catch towards mid-on. Cameron Cuffy, the giant fast bowler, dived low but could not grasp the chance.

In the absence of Brian Lara, back in Trinidad recovering from a fractured left elbow, the West Indies bolstered their unreliable batting, and weakened their bowling, omitting their one leg-spinner, Dinanath Ramnarine, for the 20-year-old left-handed all-rounder Ryan Hinds. Those who remained took up the slack with such discipline they did not concede a no-ball as they kept pegging away all day.

Merv Dillon removed Naved Latif for nought on Test debut and the dangerous Inzamam-ul-Haq for 10 to a flat-footed cut 40 minutes into the second session.

The captain Carl Hooper's off-spin, helped by a strong cross breeze, accounted for the opener Taufiq Umar for 24 just before lunch and Younis Khan for 53 to a slip catch half-way through the day. By then, Youhana had got his bearings and the remaining half yielded Pakistan 136 runs and the West Indies only one wicket.