Shaky top-order leaves the West Indies in doldrums

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, February 8: The West Indies were in danger of being asked to follow-on after Pakistan turned on the screws in the second cricket Test here on Friday.

The West Indies, replying to Pakistan's first innings total of 472, were reduced to 164 for four by stumps on the second day, still 109 runs away from making Pakistan bat again.

West Indian hopes of resurrrecting their chances rest on captain Carl Hooper, who was unbeaten on 40 with the help of six boundaries.

Nightwatchman Mervyn Dillon was the other batsman at the crease, having successfully defended 17 deliveries without opening his account.

Pakistani bowlers picked up wickets at crucial moments to keep the West Indians under pressure even on an easy-paced track that appears full of runs.

The West Indies lost opener Chris Gayle in the fourth over, bowled off the inside edge by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Daren Ganga and Wavell Hinds retrieved the situation by adding 69 for the second wicket on either side of tea, before the rot set in.

Left-hander Hinds made 25 when he was bowled round his legs while trying to sweep off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

Ganga, who hit 10 sweetly-timed boundaries in his 65, failed to make a bigger impression as he went back to a Shahid Afridi top-spinner, missed the line and was bowled.

From 88 for one it soon became 159 for four as leg-spinner Danish Kaneria had Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught at silly point for 16.

The failure of the West Indian batsmen undid the good work of the bowlers earlier in the day when they captured the last seven wickets for 128 runs after Pakistan resumed at the overnight score of 344 for three.

Having dropped four catches on the first day which allowed Pakistan to put up a commanding score, Hooper's men tightened their belts to keep the runs in check.

Pakistan, facing the second new ball from the start, managed just 88 runs from 34 overs in the extended morning session for the loss of three wickets.

After lunch, birthday boy Cameron Cuffy sliced through the tail as Pakistan lost their last four wickets for 25 runs to be all out 35 minutes into the second session.

Cuffy, who turned 32 on Friday, finished with four for 82, while leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine captured three for 137.

All-rounder Abdur Razzaq remained unbeaten on 64 as wickets tumbled at the other end.

Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana, who resumed their stand of 72 for the fourth wicket, were separated in the day's fifth over.

Youhana, dropped first ball on Thursday, added 13 runs to his overnight score of 47 when he was bowled by the hard-working Mervyn Dillon.

Youhana, who hit 146 in the first Test which Pakistan won by 170 runs, made 60 in a run-a-minute stand of 92 with Younis.

Younis, 131 overnight, moved to a career-best 153 when an attempted pull shot off left-arm seamer Pedro Collins was top-edged to Ganga at mid-off.

The Karachi right-hander hit 15 boundaries and a six during his seven-hour vigil that helped him surpass his previous best of 149 against New Zealand at Auckland last year.

Wicket-keeper Rashid Latif, who made 150 in the first Test, managed only 16 when he pulled Ramnarine to Hooper at mid-wicket.

The normal two-hour session was extended by 30 minutes to accommodate an hour's lunch break for Friday prayers.

When play resumed after lunch, Cuffy bowled Saqlain, took a return catch to remove Shoaib and had last man Kaneria caught at first slip.