Pakistanis enjoy tradition of centuries at Bourda

Pakistan play the first Test of their current West Indian tour beginning on May 5 in Georgetown, Guyana, at the famous Bourda ground. Guyana is a sovereign republic located on the northeastern corner of South America, bordering Venezuela and Brazil.

Unlike the other nations comprising the 'West Indies' identity, it is not an island. A former British colony (independence in 1966), it is the only English-speaking country in South America, a continent dominated by the Spanish and Portuguese languages.

Bourda, which happens to be the only Test center in Guyana, hosted its first Test on Feb 21, 1930. It is one of the largest West Indian Test centers, boasting a capacity in excess of 20,000. The pitch has a reputation for being a batsman's paradise. Pakistan have played at Bourda on three previous occasions: March 1958, March 1977 and April 1988. Pakistan lost the 1958 game, drew the one in 1977, and won the contest in 1988. In each of the three Tests, there has been a century from Pakistan.

In 1958, the fourth Test of the five-Test series between West Indies and Pakistan was played at Bourda. Saeed Ahmed scored 150 in Pakistan's first innings of 408, and the West Indies replied with 410. Although Pakistan then set them a competitive target of 317 to win the game, the opposition achieved it comfortably, with eight wickets to spare, thanks to hundreds from Garfield Sobers and Conrad Hunte. It was Sobers' second century in the match and his third Test century in consecutive innings, following closely on the heels of his then record-setting 365 not out scored in the preceding Test match in Kingston, Jamaica.

In 1977, Bourda staged the third Test of another five-test rubber between West Indies and Pakistan. It would be remembered as Majid Khan's Test match. Pakistan batted first and were cheaply out for 194, the wickets being shared by fast-bowling greats Colin Croft and Joel Garner, then in their debut series. In response, the West Indies made 448, leaving Pakistan facing a deficit of 254. The Pakistan's 2nd innings began with Majid Khan blasting his way to 167. It would remain the highest Test score of Majid's illustrious career. Majid's opening partner Sadiq Mohammad retired hurt, and the first wicket partnership continued between majid and Zaheer Abbas, the latter making 80 and the first wicket not falling until 219. The match was drawn.

In 1988, Pakistan played the opening Test of a three-Test rubber at Bourda. Javed Miandad made 114 in an innings of great character as Pakistan compiled 435 in response to the West Indian first innings score of 292. Bowling his heart out, Imran Khan captured 7 for 80 and 4 for 41 in the game, with Pakistan winning by the emphatic margin of nine wickets.

If tradition holds, a new centurion will step up for Pakistan in their next Test battle at Bourda beginning on May 5. Perhaps Inzamam-ul-Haq will be that man, based on current form, provided he recovers from his ankle injury.

Test matches between Pakistan and the West Indies have always been keenly contested. Although the West Indies have won a series in Pakistan, Pakistan have never won a series in the West Indies. In the 1980-81 season; West Indies visited Pakistan for a four-Test series and emerged victorious 1-0.

Pakistan's best showing in the West Indies was in the 1987-88 season under Imran Khan, when they drew the three-Test rubber 1-1. it proved to be an intense contest, representing some of the finest cricket between two teams at the height of their powers.

Honours are more or less shared in the overall tally of Tests between West Indies and Pakistan, although the West Indies have a slight edge. In 34 Tests between the two teams, West Indies have won 12 and Pakistan 10. With Pakistan having regained their winning psychology through victory in the tri-nation tournament, and with the West Indies relatively depleted through the absence of star batsman Brian Lara, Pakistan are optimally placed to make history and pull off their first series win in the West Indies.