Cricket: Inzamam rides luck to keep Pakistan on top

West Indies 151 and 99-2

Pakistan 381

Inzamam-ul-Haq, batting with a runner, was dropped five times on his way to an unbeaten 92 as Pakistan tightened their grip on the first Test against the West Indies in Peshawar yesterday.

Inzamam missed out on scoring his first Test century at home when he ran out of partners in a total of 381. The West Indies, trailing by 230 runs on first innings, were 99 for 2 at the close of the third day.

Brian Lara blazed 36 in boundaries and, with the opener Sherwin Campbell (34 not out), will spearhead the touring team's attempt to save the match today.

Pakistan's captain, Wasim Akram, is well aware of the danger Lara poses. "If we are going to win then we will have to get Lara out before he is settled on Thursday." he said. "They are a very dangerous side and can bounce back any time."

Inzamam, whose right toe was crushed twice, once while fielding on the first day and the other when batting on Tuesday, which forced his retirement on 13, batted for just under five hours. He resumed his innings during the second over of the day after Azhar Mahmood (16) had departed with only four runs added to Pakistan's overnight score of 246 for 5. His 191-ball innings included nine fours and two sixes. The generous West Indies' fielders dropped him on 5, 32, 35, 86 and 88.

Mushtaq Ahmed's wicket to end the innings gave the West Indies' captain, Courtney Walsh, his 14th five-wicket haul in 94 Tests. Walsh, who took the wickets of Aamir Sohail and Mohammed Wasim the previous day, added the scalps of Azhar Mahmood, Shahid Nazir and Mushtaq yesterday to finish with 5 for 78.

Third day; West Indies won toss

WEST INDIES - First Innings 151 (Mushtaq Ahmed 5-35).

PAKISTAN - First Innings

(Overnight: 246 for 5)

Moin Khan c Walsh b Bishop 58

Azhar Mahmood c Hooper b Walsh 16

Arshad Khan c Lara b Bishop 4

Shahid Nazir b Walsh 18

Mushtaq Ahmad b Walsh 4

Extras (b2, lb7, nb1,1 w2) 22

Total 381

Fall (cont): 6-250, 7-294, 8-304, 9-347.

Bowling: Ambrose 25-4-76-0 (nb5); Walsh 32-9-78-5 (nb2); Bishop 29-7- 76-3 (w2); Simmons 2-0-9-0; Lewis 24-6-93-0 (nb4); Hooper 20-7-40-2.

WEST INDIES - Second Innings

S C Williams lbw b Wasim Akram 2

S L Campbell not out 34

S Chanderpaul c Ijaz b Mushtaq 14

*B C Lara not out 36

Extras (b5, lb1, nb7) 13

Total (for 2) 99

Fall: 1-14, 2-56.

Bowling (to date): Wasim Akram 8-4-20-1 (nb4); Shahid Nazir 3.5-0-17- 0 (nb3); Azhar Mahmood 4.1-2-6-0; Mushtaq Ahmed 8-2-32-1; Arshad Khan 6-2-18-0.

Umpires: D R Shepherd (Eng) and Said Shah (Pak).