West Indies tumble chasing 280

Danish Kaneria shrugged off an indifferent tour with a crucial four-wicket haul to put Pakistan on the verge of a series-levelling win in Jamaica. With some help from West Indian ineptitude, a wearing pitch, and David Shepherd's largesse, Pakistan rode on, and even occasional breaks for bad light and rain could not stop their march towards victory. At the end of the fourth day they had West Indies on the ropes at 114 for 6, and suddenly the target of 280 looked an Everest-climb away.

On this pitch, with the odd ball taking the top off the surface and either kicking up or staying low, it needed a bold and aggressive innings from the likes of Chris Gayle or Brian Lara to give West Indies comfort. Neither was forthcoming. Gayle, after struggling for a time against the new ball, slashed Shabbir Ahmed to Yasir Hameed in the slips (27 for 1). Soon after Ramnaresh Sarwan, who treated Kaneria with exorbitant respect, trod on his stumps and was hit-wicket (48 for 2). Lara, who needed to turn it on, tickled Kaneria to Kamran Akmal, who snapped up a fine catch down the leg side, and walked before Shepherd could give him out (48 for 3).

Then Shepherd got in on the act. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a key batsman for West Indies now that the big strokemakers were gone, attempted a pull shot as ungainly as a movement of Clarence the Crab, the cheerleading float fluttering in the breeze atop the stands. The ball pitched outside the off and struck the pad outside the line of off, and yet Shepherd upheld the appeal (56 for 4). Kaneria finished with the shiny figures of 4 for 36 off 14 overs.

Devon Smith was the glue that held the West Indian innings together, but he too fell as twilight descended, caught behind off a quick one from Kaneria for a 49 that included some handsome strokes (94 for 5). Wavell Hinds was the next to go, out-thought by Abdul Razzaq, and the wheels were coming off. When the light was offered with the score on 114 for 6, a long and depressing day for West Indies came to an end.

When the day began, Pakistan were 193 ahead, and in a good position to seal the match and settle a score. Shahid Afridi was at the crease, ready to do his worst, with the orthodox and composed Inzamam-ul-Haq at the other end to make sure nothing went wrong. Afridi opened his arms and powerful Pathan shoulders as only he can, and attacked from the word go. He heaved and missed more than once, but he also connected. Daren Powell was the first to suffer, as a ball marginally short of length was dispatched over the midwicket fence with monstrous power.

Afridi launched into a succession of big hits - mostly cross-batted shots over the on-side - and forced the bowlers to keep a full length. He added two fours and a six to his overnight tally, and reached a run-a-ball 43 before chipping Tino Best straight to Smith at midwicket (267 for 5).

Razzaq replaced Afridi, but his stay was brief. He was bowled by one from Best that nipped back and stayed a touch low (273 for 6). Best then made it three good ones, sending back Akmal, attempting to cut, with a short ball that went safely to Courtney Browne's gloves via the outside edge (279 for 7).

Reon King chipped in with a wicket, and in the meantime Inzamam had moved in sight of a century, but was fast running out of partners. Good fortune did not abandon him - he chopped hard at one from King on 92 and edged to the keeper, only to see Darrell Hair signal no-ball. Eventually he did get to three figures, glancing King to the fine-leg fence.

Best then rounded off a good morning's work with his fourth wicket, when Shabbir tickled one through to the wicketkeeper (295 for 9). Kaneria was well shielded by Inzamam, but succumbed when he was left to face a full over. He fended awkwardly at a short one from Corey Collymore and managed only to spoon a catch down the pitch. Collymore covered ground well in his follow-through and took a good tumbling catch to end the Pakistan innings on 309. Inzamam was unbeaten on 117, and Pakistan had set West Indies a sizeable target to win.

Gayle c Hameed b Shabbir 15 (27 for 1)
Chased a wide one and edged to the slips.

Sarwan hit wicket b Kaneria 8 (48 for 2)
Trod on his stumps shifting his weight after playing a stroke.

Lara c Akmal b Kaneria 0 (48 for 3)
Tickled one down the leg side and walked.

Chanderpaul lbw b Kaneria 0 (56 for 4)
Adjudged lbw when struck outside the line while playing a shot.

Smith c Akmal b Kaneria 49 (94 for 5)
Tickled a quick one that did not turn.

Hinds c Younis b Razzaq 19 (100 for 6)
Poked at a wide one.

Afridi c Smith b Best 43 (267 for 5)
Chipped a full one to midwicket.

Razzaq b Best 2 (273 for 6)
Done in by a ball that came in off the pitch and kept low.

Akmal c Browne b Best 1 (279 for 7)
Edged a lifter trying to cut one that was too close.

Naved-ul-Hassan b King 0 (280 for 8)
Dragged a wide one back on to his stumps.

Shabbir c Browne b Best 0 (295 for 9)
Tickled a full one to the keeper.

Kaneria c & b Collymore 0 (309 for 10)
Fended a short ball for the bowler to take a tumbling catch.