Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakistan beat West Indies by 196 runs in the second and final Test to square the series here on Tuesday at Warner Park.
The relief hundreds from Taufeeq Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq followed by purposeful bowling led by Abdur Rehman helped Pakistan realize a victory in the second Test.
West Indies, in pursuit of 427 for victory, was bowled out for 230 on the final day as a peppy Rehman captured four for 65.
Left-hander Darren Bravo has been the only West Indies batsman, hitting the top score so far of 50 and has come to terms with the Pakistani bowlers. Taufeeq had equaled his career-best of 135 and Misbah, the Pakistan captain, was undefeated with 102, as the Pakistan team reached 377 for six in the second innings before declaring about 45 minutes after lunch break.
Taufeeq struck only 13 fours from 315 balls in close to seven hours batting earning 135 runs, and Misbah fired 10 fours and two sixes from 141 deliveries to make 102 runs in close to four hours.
Devendra Bishoo was the most successful West Indies bowler with two wickets for 149 runs from 38 long overs.
Misbah is quoted saying “It is really, really good to score a Test hundred as a captain because the team is always looking towards you for something special. For your own confidence, and the sake of the team, it is really important that you chip in and perform at all stages of the game. But we have not won the Test match yet. Until we have taken the final wicket, we have not won it yet. It’s still a game of cricket, and we have to finish the game, unless it’s half the job done.”
Tanvir Ahmed made an early breakthrough for the Pakistanis and the West Indies were 54 for one at tea, when he bowled out West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the third over of the innings.
After tea, the Asian team was in full throttle and carved a easy path for victory, with Rehman playing a leading role, and taking the wickets of Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the space of five deliveries.
West Indies fell short of 49 runs to make it a 2-0 series lead.
Tags: Cricket, Misbah-ul- Haq, Pakistan, Test Cricket, Test Match, West Indies
