Debutant Among Runs as West Indies Dig in

Rookie left-hander Ryan Hinds hit an accomplished, unbeaten 55 on debut as the West Indian middle order batsmen all made meaningful contributions to blunt Pakistan's attack on the third day of the opening Test here Saturday.

Resuming from 54 without loss, the West Indies went to close promisingly placed at 325 for five in reply to Pakistan's first innings of 493.

Hinds, the 20-year-old Barbadian was among a quartet of batsmen to score half centuries, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul went to the close in sight of one on 45 not out.

Opener Chris Gayle, resuming from 41, topscored with 68, while fellow Jamaican left-hander Wavell Hinds hit 59 and captain Carl Hooper, 56. But when Hooper was fifth out on the stroke of tea at 231 for five, the West Indies were still 63 away from the follow-on mark and the ghost of collapses past haunting them.

But Ryan Hinds and Chanderpaul shared a vital, unbroken sixth wicket stand of 94 in the final session to deflate the Pakistanis, who had been so buoyed by the wicket of Hooper.

Earlier, Gayle and Ganga stretched their overnight stand of 54 to 88 before they both fell in quick succession. Ganga spent 94 balls and two and a quarter hours compiling 20 before he played well back to a Saqlain off break and was struck plumb in front.

Gayle, who raced to his half century with three boundaries in one over from Abdur Razzaq, was also a Saqlain victim, bowled through the gate as he attempted to drive a ball that went the other way.

Gayle, with 12 of his 13 boundaries played with such typical flourish through the off side, faced 117 deliveries in 147 minutes. When the recalled Sherwin Campbell was deceived by a Danish Kaneria googly to be plumb leg before for six padding up, the West Indies had slipped to 126 for three and the Pakistanis would have enjoyed a tastier lunch.

After the break, however, Wavell Hinds continued to play with confidence and he and his captain Hooper transferred the pressure onto their opponents with their urgent approach in a stand of 54.

The 25-year-old Hinds notched his half century with his 10th boundary off 77 balls, celebrating the milestone by launching his next delivery from Kaneria over midwicket for his only six.

But his enterprise was to prove his downfall in the leg-spinner's next over, stumped by a mile as he tried to repeat the lash to a wider delivery that failed to turn back into the left-hander.

Hinds' innings lasted 83 balls and just over an hour and a half and his disappointment was evident as he walked off in the knowledge that he threw away the chance of a second Test hundred.

His dismissal brought together the experienced Guyanese in Hooper and Chanderpaul, who quickly adapted to the Bourda-esque pitch.

Hooper, more than ever recognising his responsibility, grew in stature with every stroke, none of them more elegant than two push drives through the extra cover region which raced across the lush outfield for fours.

But when he seemed poised for a big score, he was undone by the reverse swing of Razzaq, who was rewarded for a fine spell of swing bowling.

The West Indies captain was trapped leg before, his 56 off 103 balls spiced with eight fours and spanning just over two hours.
Hooper and Chanderpaul added 51 for the fifth wicket.

With two days remaining, the Test match is far from over, but the resistance of the middle order has given the West Indies a self assurance not often seen on disastrous overseas tours over the past few seasons.

* Match report by Craig Cozier.