Day 5: A draw was the inevitable conclusion
22 May 2000 (Colin E. Croft)
Lunch Interval:
The first boundary this final morning only came after about an hour's play, in the 15th over, but Pakistan have survived well, enlarging their 2nd innings total to 407-7, an overall lead of 262.
Overnight batsmen Abdur Razzaq, using a runner due to a pulled thigh muscle, has moved on to his 2nd half century of this series; 68 not out, including nine 4's, a very important innings in
the context of this game. His partner, Saqlain Mustaq has been resolute for his 26 not out, and the pair has added 66 so far for the 8th wicket.
The 2nd new ball had been taken on the 4th afternoon, so now with about 25 overs to yet another new ball, the West Indies might be missing a genuine spinner, someone who turns the ball much, to help dislodge the last three Pakistani batsmen.
The West Indies started this morning with fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Reon King, but the Pakistan batsmen have continued to look organized on this good batting pitch. Jimmy Adams has bowled today too, as has Courtney Walsh, while Nixon McLean has not yet been used today.
With two hours already gone today, this game has moved again into Pakistan's favor. It is almost a good conclusion that they now have a sufficiently good total to declare during the luncheon interval. That would then set up an intriguing afternoon, with the West Indies allowed about 4 and a half hours toget at least 263 to win. That declaration is not yet certain, though. At lunch on the final day of this 2nd Test, Pakistan are 407-7, an overall lead of 262.
Tea Interval:
Pakistan's veteran fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have given their team a great start in the 2nd innings after Pakistan set the West Indies 275 to win this game.
At tea, the West Indies are wobbling a bit on 58-3 and now, there can only be one winner. It will not be the West Indies.
The batsman out are Adrian Griffith, LBW while playing across a Waqar delivery, for 05;Sherwin Campbell who was caught at gully, by Shahid Afridi, off Wasim's bowling for 08, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was caught at short-leg by Mohammad Wasim from Mustaq Ahmed's bowling.
1st innings centurion Wavell Hinds is 14 not out, while being guided by captain Jimmy Adams, who is 11 not out.
Not surprisingly, Pakistan prolonged their innings after lunch, with Abdur Razzaq, who is injured and will probably not bowl in this 2nd innings, eventually making 72. After Saqlain was out for 33, Pakistan then declared at 419-9, an overall lead of 274.
The best West Indian bowler was Reon King, who finished with 4-82 from 29 overs, while West Indian veteran Courtney Walsh had another to bring his Test tally to 443.
Set to score 275 from a possible 60 overs to win this game and go 1-0 up in the series, a tough ask but with a good afternoon's cricket in prospect, the West Indies are 58-3 at tea.
Final Session:
In the end, the effort for a positive outcome was just beyond both teams, as this wonderful batting pitch at the Kensigton Oval had the final say.
After 10 overs of the mandatory 15 in the last hour had been completed, both captains, on the field at the end, decided that enough was enough, with the West Indies 132-4.
Captain Jimmy Adams was 34 not out, guiding his team to safety, while Test newcomer Ramnaresh Sarwan played comfortably to be 11 not out.
Pakistan would probably be rueing their late declaration, which surprisingly came only after lunch. Perhaps the required 275 was just too much for the West Indies, while 57 overs were too few for the Pakistanis.
Despite every effort by off-spinner Saqlain Mustaq and leg-spinner Mustaq Ahmed, Adams should be well pleased with his and Wavell Hinds' efforts after the West Indies had slumped to 41-3 in mid-afternoon.
The pair then put on 72 before Hinds slashed at Mustaq, only to be caught by wicket-keeper Moin Khan for 52. Nevertheless, with his 165 in the 1st innings, Hinds was easily the "Man of the Match".
At the end, a draw was the inevitable conclusion.
It is now on to Antigua with the teams deadlocked at 0-0.