West Indies-Pakistan Test encounters since 1958 - I (17 Nov 1997)

17 November 1997

West Indies-Pakistan Test encounters since 1958 - I

By Mohammad Shoaib Ahmed

The West Indian led by Courtney Walsh, have come on their sixth trip to Pakistan for Test series. Their last full trip was seven years ago in 1990-91.

In January 1958, Pakistan embarked on their first official visit to the West Indies, for a five-Test rubber. In the first Test when Pakistan were forced to follow-on 473 runs behind, hanif Mohammad batted 970 minutes, scoring 337 runs and in the process saw off a looming defeat. That innings of Hanif was the ultimate effort in cricketing endurance spread over almost three days. Pakistan also recorded its then highest Test score of 657-8 declared which stood for almost four decades. The West Indies then won the next three Test matches in a row taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead. The highlight was Sobers record innings of 365 in the third Test at Kingston who was also involved in a second-wicket stand of 446 with Conard Hunte who made 260 runs. Sobers followed up his marathon knock with a century-in-each-innings the Georgetown Test.

Pakistan salvaged some of its pride by clinching the final Test of the rubber at Port-of-Spain by an innings margin, thanks mainly to Wazir Mohammad's Test best of 189 and exquisite spells of bowling by pacer Fazal Mahmood and yong left-arm spinner Nasim-ul-Ghani. This series also marked the end of the illustrious career of Abdul Hafeez Kardar. The following year (1958-59) saw West Indians arrived in Pakistan for the first time to play three Tests series. The tourists opened their tour with a drawn three-day match against Central Zone at Bahawalpur with most of their batsmen (Rohan Kanhai top scoring with 114) among runs and bowlers too getting among wickets. On the first day of the Karachi Test, with Fazal (picking up Hunte and sobers without scoring) and nasim-ul-Ghani picking four wickets apiece, the tourists were sent packing or 146. On the second day hanif Mohammad (103) and Saeed Ahmed (78) took Pakistan past the modest opposition total and making their side firm favourites. Even by grabbing the last six wickets for twenty runs. West Indies could not help conceding a 158 run deficit. On the fourth morning all seemed lost for the visitors at 109-5 when a spirited revival led by Basil Butcher (61) and Joe Solomon (66) took the match into the final day. The home side but for their poor catching would have wrapped up the Test match on the fourth afternoon. Nevertheless a target of 88 was achieved by Pakistan, but not without mishap. In the absence of hanif on the final day, the challenge was taken up by the Ijaz Butt (41), and Saeed Ahmed resulting in a ten-wicket win for Pakistan. The victorious captain, Fazal with his seventh wicket in the match (Gary Sobers lbw for 14 in the second innings) became the first Pakistani bowler to claim hundred Test wickets.

In the second Test captain Fazal Mahmood was back at his very best on another matting wicket in Dacca. His match figures of 12-100 went a long way to ensure Pakistan 1 410run win in a low scoring game, on the third day. The home side's chief contribution with the bat, came from Wallis Mathias, who top scored in both innings. On the opening day Wes Hall's fiery spell had reduced Pakistan's line up (without Hanif for the first time since its Inauguration in October 1952) to 5-22, when a slide was checked through a fighting 86-run partnership between Wallis (64) and Shujauddin (26). The following morning saw West Indies losing their last eight wicket for twenty runs to be all out for 76, which remained their lowest total ever until 1986. In an amazing turn around the last six batsmen in the order failed to open their account. Another disastrous start meant the first innings pair of Wallis and Shuja coming back to the rescue again but on the third morning another bating collapse inflicted by hall (a spell of 4-12 off 4.5 overs) left West Indies chasing 214 on a crumbling wicket.

In the 61st over of the innings, it was all over as Fazal (6/66) and mahmood Hussain (4/48) tore through the opposition with relentless accuracy and penetration. With the series already in the bag, the Pakistan skipper was happy to take on the visitors on the turf wickets of Bagh-i-Jinnah, lahore. West Indies hit back in the final Test at Lahore and inflicted a heavy innings defeat upon their hosts. Rohan Kanhai hit a superb 217 and Wes hall claimed a hat-trick in Pakistan's first innings. For Pakistan, Mushtaq Mohammad made his debut at the tender age of 15 years and 124 days.

There was no Test cricket played between Pakistan and West Indies for the next sixteen years. Both sides had one survivor each from the 1958-59 rubber in the shape of Lance Gibbs and Mushtaq Mohammed. After their 3-2 series win in Indian Clive Lloyd's West Indian team arrived in February 1975 for a three-week tour. During their stay in Pakistan two Test matches were to be played. At Lahore in the first Test Mushtaq Mohammad's fighting qualities came to the fore with 123 in the second innings. On the final day Leonard Baichan (105*), on debut, shared a match-saving partnership with his skipper, when Pakistan was pressing for advantage.

The Karachi Test was marred by rioting, which followed spectator intrusions when Wasim Raja, completed his maiden century. Earlier Majid Khan had delighted the first day crowd with an effortless 100, his first hundred in Pakistan. The tourists gained an eighty-seven runs lead with Kallicharran-Lloyd stand yielded 139 runs in 115 minutes for the fourth wicket. The hosts were rescued from 90-5 in the second innings by Asif Iqbal (77) and injured Sadiq Mohammad (98*) to draw the series. The left ear that caused a swollen neck, while fielding close on the leg-side to Julien.

In the 1976-77 season the West Indian public was treated to a marvellous series which was decided by a 2-1 margin in the favour of the home team. The series opener at Barbados was a match of fluctuating fortunes which the West Indies saved with their last three batsmen defying the Pakistani bowlers for the last 95 minutes. The second match saw Colin Croft took 8-29 on the opening day which sealed the fate of the match. The second Test at Georgetown ended in a draw. Pakistan drew level in the Port-of-Spain Test with skipper Mushtaq Mohammad coming good with bat as well as the ball. The final Test was played at truly fast pitch and West Indians with more firepower at their disposal emerged winners, also taking the series.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)