Pakistan 304 & 130-2 West Indies 260: Hafeez hammers home Pakistan's advantage

A watchful half-century from Mohammad Hafeez helped Pakistan to forge a second-innings lead of 174 over the West Indies in the third Test here yesterday. Hafeez, well supported by Younis Khan, finished on 57 not out as Inzamam-ul-Haq's side strove to set the tourists up for a big chase in the final innings.

At stumps on day three, the tourists were 130 for 2, following the dismissals of Hafeez's opening partner, Imran Farhat, and the No 3 Younis. Farhat fell to Daren Powell when he got the thinnest of edges through to the wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin at an easy height.

It took more than 26 overs for the next breakthrough to come for Brian Lara's side. Younis hit four fours and a six and was dropped by Dwayne Bravo before being trapped leg before wicket by a quicker delivery from the off-spinner Chris Gayle.

In the morning session, a battling half-century from Ramdin was not enough to stop Pakistan's bowlers wrapping up the away side's resistance to record a 44-run first-innings lead.

Lara's men resumed on 191 for 6 in response to Pakistan's 304 but managed just 69 runs for the loss of their last four wickets.

The opener Daren Ganga added only four runs to his overnight 77 before falling to Abdul Razzaq. The medium-pacer found the edge of Ganga's bat with a seemingly innocuous ball, leaving Kamran Akmal to take a regulation catch behind the stumps.

Ramdin responded with a hard-fought 50 from 95 deliveries and shared a last-wicket stand of 44 with Corey Collymore until the West Indies wicketkeeper was run out by Mohammad Yousuf. Umar Gul finished with 4 for 79.