da 888casino： Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq warmed up for the second Test against theWest Indies next week with a six-wicket haul against the West Indies’A’ team yesterday
da pinup bet： Philip Hackett13-May-2000Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq warmed up for the second Test against theWest Indies next week with a six-wicket haul against the West Indies’A’ team yesterday.The hosts struggled to 160 all out, and Pakistan replied strongly toreach 154 for two off 40 overs in the final session.Saqlain, despite sending down ten no-balls, took six for 48 as hefamiliarised himself with Kensington Oval and probably removed anydoubt the selectors might have had regarding his place in the team forthe Test.There was little to suggest such lucrative returns for Saqlain whenDarren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan took the ‘A’ team to lunch at 92 forone.Ganga completed his half-century just before the break and was on 52in partnership with Sarwan who was unbeaten on 27.The pair had come together just 22 minutes into the day’s play afterAzeemul Hanif had fallen victim to Waqar Younis with the score oneight.The first hour’s play produced just 35 runs but Sarwan and Gangastepped up the tempo towards the break, scoring 39 in 46 minutesleading up to lunch.The first 50 of the innings took 74 minutes, in contrast to the secondwhich came in only 43 minutes.This second landmark ushered in the start of the ‘A’ team’s dramaticslide after lunch.The second-wicket stand had put together 92 in 103 minutes when Sarwantouched a delivery from pacer Mohammed Akram to wicketkeeper MohammedWasim.Sarwan faced 68 deliveries and struck four fours in his 32.Just three runs later Ricardo Powell, who many believe was unfortunateto miss out on the tour of England, became Saqlain’s first victim whenhe was bowled for one at 103 for three.One run later Imran Nazir dived forward at forward short-leg to snapup Sylvester Joseph off Saqlain as the ‘A’ team lost three wickets forfour runs, but the trouble wasn’t over as yet.Ganga, who showed tremendous enterprise in reaching his 50 beforelunch with eight fours, including two in one over from Waqar, in 118minutes, laboured a further 40 minutes on resumption in adding two.Trying to free himself, he miscued a hook off Akram to provide astraightforward catch to Arshad Khan at square-leg which he almostmuffed.SlumpedCaptain Courtney Browne started positively, but he too was bowled bySaqlain as the score slumped to 118 for six an hour after lunch.Mahendra Nagamootoo joined Marlon Samuels, who had started to showsome defiance, and the two took the score to 130 before Nagamootoo wascaught and bowled by Waqar Younis.The bowler had earlier dropped an easy catch offered by Nagamootoo offSaqlain.Samuels excited the faithful spectators located mainly in theKensington Stand with a few handsome strokes in a fluent knock of 31off 43 balls in 87 minutes, but he too was snared by Saqlain, caughtat square-leg by Shahid Afridi.Mohammed Wasim and Wajahatullah Wasti gave the Pakistan innings anideal launch pad with a stand of 54.Wasti contributed 19 before edging left-arm pacer Pedro Collins towicketkeeper Browne.Yousuf Youhana, searching for form and runs, raced to 45 off 44 ballsas Pakistan’s 100 came in 108 minutes off 136 deliveries.Having provided himself with the type of start needed for a meaningfulinnings, he adopted a more watchful approach.He reached his 50 in 74 minutes off 65 deliveries with seven fours,and just when it appeared the partnership would reach three figures,Youhana was run out by the full length of the pitch as he foundhimself in the same crease as Wasim.Youhana’s 58 was made in 89 minutes off 73 balls and included sixfours.Wasim remained unbeaten on 74. His 50 came in 105 minutes off 65 ballswith six fours.He has so far batted 180 minutes facing 113 deliveries while countingseven fours.
