Ajmal pegs back WI

West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo sends down a delivery on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Providence cricket ground in Georgetown on Friday.

Saeed Ajmal continued to torment the West Indies as he bowled Pakistan back into the opening Test on Saturday when the hosts were reduced to 140 for nine in their second innings for an overall lead of 209.

The off-spinner has collected five for 41 from 23 overs for match figures of 10 for 100 to leave the West Indies tottering on the third day at the Guyana National Stadium, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out on 31 and Devendra Bishoo on 24.

Ajmal struck with the fifth ball of the day, after West Indies continued from their overnight total of 34 for two.

He removed night-watchman Kemar Roach lbw for three, following the West Indies fast bowler's unsuccessful review of New Zealand umpire Tony Hill's decision.

It was the 13th lbw decision awarded in the match.

Ajmal continued to mesmerise the West Indies batsmen, many of whom have failed to pick his doosra, removing Ramnaresh Sarwan for 11 and Carlton Baugh for seven.

Ajmal was unfortunate that he did not count Lendl Simmons among his scalps, when the West Indies opener, on 20, charged down the pitch, and slogged at a flighted delivery.

The ball ricocheted from the batsman's front pad, eluded wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman, and raced to the third man boundary for four leg byes.

Next over, Wahab Riaz made sure the lost chance was not too costly for Pakistan when Simmons fended a short delivery and was caught at silly mid-off for 21, leaving West Indies 47 for four.

With Ajmal tying the batsmen down, and Wahab and Umar Gul bowling steadily from the other end, there were few scoring opportunities for West Indies, but Sarwan eased the tension with a typically smooth cover drive off Wahab for his first boundary.

Ajmal, however, remained a constant threat and this brought Sarwan's downfall, caught at forward short leg fending an awkwardly bouncing delivery.

Pakistan were gifted another wicket when Brendan Nash was run out for three, looking for a second run, and being sent back by Chanderpaul.

Ajmal then struck in the last 15 minutes before the interval when Baugh was caught at mid-wicket, swinging a shortish delivery low to the fielder.

Pakistan, seeking their maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean, had earlier been dismissed for 160 in reply to West Indies first innings total of 226, about 40 minutes before the scheduled close with leg spinner Devendra Bishoo finishing with four for 68 from 25 overs on his Test debut.

Seamer Ravi Rampaul took three for 27 from 17 overs for his best figures in a Test.

Abdur Rehman topped the scoring for the visitors with 40 not out while Azhar Ali made 34 and Umar Akmal hit 33.

SCORES IN BRIEF
WEST INDIES: First innings 226 (Simmons 49, Chanderpaul 27, Bravo 25; Ajmal 5-69, Hafeez 2-22, Rehman 2-51)

PAKISTAN: First innings 160 (Rehman 40 not out, Akmal 33; Bishoo 4-68, Rampaul 3-27, Sammy 2-16)

WEST INDIES: Second innings 146 for 9 (Simmons 21, Chanderpaul 34 not out, Bishoo 24 not out; Ajmal 5-41)