Six for Saqlain

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq warmed up for the second Test against the West 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 to reach 154 for two off 40 overs in the final session.

Saqlain, despite sending down ten no-balls, took six for 48 as he familiarised himself with Kensington Oval and probably removed any doubt the selectors might have had regarding his place in the team for the Test.

There was little to suggest such lucrative returns for Saqlain when Darren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan took the 'A' team to lunch at 92 for one.

Ganga completed his half-century just before the break and was on 52 in partnership with Sarwan who was unbeaten on 27.

The pair had come together just 22 minutes into the day's play after Azeemul Hanif had fallen victim to Waqar Younis with the score on eight.

The first hour's play produced just 35 runs but Sarwan and Ganga stepped up the tempo towards the break, scoring 39 in 46 minutes leading up to lunch.

The first 50 of the innings took 74 minutes, in contrast to the second which came in only 43 minutes.

This second landmark ushered in the start of the 'A' team's dramatic slide after lunch.

The second-wicket stand had put together 92 in 103 minutes when Sarwan touched a delivery from pacer Mohammed Akram to wicketkeeper Mohammed Wasim.

Sarwan faced 68 deliveries and struck four fours in his 32.

Just three runs later Ricardo Powell, who many believe was unfortunate to miss out on the tour of England, became Saqlain's first victim when he was bowled for one at 103 for three.

One run later Imran Nazir dived forward at forward short-leg to snap up Sylvester Joseph off Saqlain as the 'A' team lost three wickets for four runs, but the trouble wasn't over as yet.

Ganga, who showed tremendous enterprise in reaching his 50 before lunch with eight fours, including two in one over from Waqar, in 118 minutes, laboured a further 40 minutes on resumption in adding two.

Trying to free himself, he miscued a hook off Akram to provide a straightforward catch to Arshad Khan at square-leg which he almost muffed.

Slumped

Captain Courtney Browne started positively, but he too was bowled by Saqlain as the score slumped to 118 for six an hour after lunch.

Mahendra Nagamootoo joined Marlon Samuels, who had started to show some defiance, and the two took the score to 130 before Nagamootoo was caught and bowled by Waqar Younis.

The bowler had earlier dropped an easy catch offered by Nagamootoo off Saqlain.

Samuels excited the faithful spectators located mainly in the Kensington Stand with a few handsome strokes in a fluent knock of 31 off 43 balls in 87 minutes, but he too was snared by Saqlain, caught at square-leg by Shahid Afridi.

Mohammed Wasim and Wajahatullah Wasti gave the Pakistan innings an ideal launch pad with a stand of 54.

Wasti contributed 19 before edging left-arm pacer Pedro Collins to wicketkeeper Browne.

Yousuf Youhana, searching for form and runs, raced to 45 off 44 balls as Pakistan's 100 came in 108 minutes off 136 deliveries.

Having provided himself with the type of start needed for a meaningful innings, 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 found himself in the same crease as Wasim.

Youhana's 58 was made in 89 minutes off 73 balls and included six fours.

Wasim remained unbeaten on 74. His 50 came in 105 minutes off 65 balls with six fours.

He has so far batted 180 minutes facing 113 deliveries while counting seven fours.