Pakistan win pre-Test match by 107 runs

Georgetown (Guyana), May 1: Pakistan scored a comfortable 107-run victory over West Indies Under-23s at Uitflugt on Sunday, which carries them into the first Test, starting at Bourda on Friday, with a certain amount of confidence.

Pakistan's win against the second string of West Indian team was achieved at the fag end of the fourth and final day partly because of various rain stoppages and also partly because of determined batting by Under-23s opener Azeemul Haniff. The youngster once again displayed true grit and concentration while contributing 75 gutsy runs to add to his first innings score of 46.

Haniff batted for 193 minutes and hit eight fours and one six. In the process he shared a partnership of 104 for the sixth-wicket with Marlon Samuels, who scored an attacking 61.

After an early lunch when play resumed at 1.30 p.m with the home team having added 60 to take their overnight score of 12 for one to 72 for three, Sylvester Joseph was out to Shahid Afridi for 23 after a stand of 48 with Haniff.

Ryan Hinds (5) soon followed when he was stumped by Mohammad Wasim off Afridi.

At that point, the Under-23s were tottering at 96 for five and the target of 329 was just a forlorn hope. But Haniff and Samuels led a fine recovery by taking the total to 150 for five at tea.

However, with the score on 200, Haniff's excellent innings came to an end when substitute fieldsman, Pakistan captain Moin Khan, caught him off off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

The last four wickets offered token resistance and contributed just 21 runs before the innings was finally terminated at 221. Wayne Phillips was caught behind off Mushtaq for a duck, Samuels was bowled by Saqlain, who also accounted for Pedro Collins (0).

Arshad Khan wrapped up the innings by knocking off Calimus Alexander's stumps with a quicker delivery. Saqlain was best of the bowlers with three for 37 while Mohammad Akram, who had a match haul of seven for 44, Afridi and Mushtaq Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece.