Dillon Is A-Class

The New Fighting Spirit in the West Indies senior team rubbed off on the reserves yesterday as the 'A' team defeated Pakistan by 65 runs at Kensington Oval.

On a day of high drama and entertainment, Mervyn Dillon gave the West Indies six reasons to set the selectors thinking they might have been wrong in excluding him from the 16-man team for the summer tour to England.

It was a superb fightback by the 'A' team after conceding a first innings lead of 186. Set 211 for victory after the 'A' team accumulated 396 in their second innings, Pakistan reached 145 all out 20 minutes after tea on the final day.

The 25-year-old Dillon, charging in purposefully from the southern end, extracted good pace and bounce and rocked Pakistan with career-best figures of six for 40 to earn match figures of nine for 92.

Pakistan started the final session of a match, which at one stage seemed to be heading to a conclusion inside three days, requiring 80 runs with three wickets standing.

Dillon, who went to tea with four wickets to his credit, ensured there would be no recovery when he squared up acting captain Waqar Younis for Ramnaresh Sarwan to take the catch at point off the leading edge.

Eight runs later Arshad Khan was bowled by Dillon, and leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo had the honour of taking the final wicket: Mohammed Akram caught and bowled for five.

Wajahat Wasti, hoping for a big score to secure his place for the second Test, played on to Dillon as Pakistan set about what appeared at the time to be a somewhat easy task of scoring the required 211.

Were it not for a brilliant piece of fielding by Corey Collymore and poor judgement by Yousuf Youhana the Pakistanis may have easily consolidated their position by lunch. Instead, Youhana challenged the arm of Collymore in attempting a second run to fine-leg and the direct hit found him short.

Dillon then won an lbw appeal against Younis Khan to send the Pakistanis to lunch at 63 for three.

On resumption Imran Nazir, who had stroked his way to 39 with eight fours at lunch, failed to add as he nicked a pacy delivery from Collymore to Courtney Browne who took a smart catch low to his right.

It was just reward for Collymore who bowled with life and aggression, showing no ill effects from the back injury which interrupted his career last year.

Dillon soon struck again, bowling Shahid Afridi as the innings declined to 66 for five.

Mohammed Wasim and Saqlain Mushtaq threatened to put Pakistan back on course with a partnership of 65 in 84 minutes before Nagamootoo claimed Saqlain.