West Indies 206 & 74-3 Pakistan 485: West Indies face defeat as Gul takes key wickets

Pakistan were on the verge of inflicting a heavy defeat on West Indies after the tourists ended day three in Lahore 74 for three in their second innings, still 205 behind the home side's mammoth 485.

Mohammad Yousuf's 192, his best score against the Windies in Test cricket, had powered Pakistan to a healthy first-innings lead in response to West Indies' 206 before the tourists lost both openers with just 20 runs on the scoreboard in their second innings.

The impressive Umar Gul trapped the dangerous Ramnaresh Sarwan leg before wicket shortly before the close of play to leave the Windies reeling and needing to bat out day four to stand any chance of salvaging the Test.

Gul removed Chris Gayle for 11, caught off an outside edge by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Daren Ganga was run out by Imran Farhat for five to leave the tourists 28 for two at tea.

Brian Lara and Sarwan looked to stabilise matters, but Gul cut a delivery back to trap Sarwan and leave Lara (28) and Fidel Edwards (5) unbeaten at stumps.

Gul returned figures of two for 39 from nine overs, while Shahid Nazir allowed 27 runs from his eight-over spell.

After having started the day on 265 for four, Pakistan ended the morning session on 396 for six, Gayle getting two important wickets to give his team a glimmer of hope.

First he removed Akmal, caught at silly mid-off by Brian Lara, to break a dogged 148-run seventh wicket stand between the wicketkeeper and the classy Yousuf.

In doing so, he became the sixth highest wicket-taking spinner for the Caribbean outfit in Test history.

He followed that up with the lucky dismissal of Yousuf, given out stumped by umpire Asoka de Silva, ending his near eight-and-a-half-hour stay at the crease, leaving Pakistan at 444 for eight.

Two runs later, Dave Mohammed removed Shahid Nazir for a duck as he top-edged to Corey Collymore at mid-off.

But Lara's men failed to wrap up the last wicket quickly and Danish Kaneria (23) and Gul (16) put on 39 in a final stand, before the former nicked Mohammed to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin to end the innings on 485.

Jerome Taylor was the pick of the bowlers for the tourists, finishing with four for 115, while Mohammed claimed three for 98.