Pakistan in West Indies, 2004-05 West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Jamaica

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Pakistan completed their first Test victory in the Caribbean for 17 years on the final morning to share the honours in this brief series. Lara produced another scintillating hundred, Danish Kaneria mesmerised West Indies on the fourth evening, and Inzamamul- Haq led the way for Pakistan on his return with crucial innings of 50 and 117 not out. Yet everything else in the match may be forgotten before Courtney Browne's error on the third afternoon. With Pakistan unsteady at 119 for three - only 89 in front - Browne put down a straightforward catch offered first ball by Inzamam off Collymore, who had already removed Shoaib Malik and Asim Kamal in the same over.

Inzamam made the most of his good fortune - which also involved being caught behind off a no-ball when 92 - in grinding his way to a 22nd Test century that played West Indies out of the match. It was a most unkind fate for Browne, an exemplary player and team man. But that counted little to the media and public, who instantly recalled his lapse on this same ground on his Test debut in 1994-95, that allowed Steve Waugh to turn 42 into 200 and enabled Australia to claim the victory that ended West Indies' 15-year unbeaten run in Test series. The strikes may have been ten years apart, but lightning hit the same place and the same man twice.

The game had started calmly enough, with Younis Khan stroking an entertaining 106 to provide the foundation of a solid Pakistani total of 374. But at 247 for three, they were set for far more before Collymore took over. On the ground where he had devastated Sri Lanka with seven for 57 two years previously, he adhered religiously to an off-stump line, snared six of the last seven wickets and returned figures of seven for 78. An explosive innings by Gayle - 33 from 22 balls - proved deceptive, and at 59 for two Lara strode to the middle with anticipation in the air. His measured, assured start was ominous for Pakistan, and it was with a sense of inevitability that he crafted his 30th Test hundred - his fourth in five matches, and one that took him past Don Bradman's tally of 29. As at Bridgetown, Lara singled out the leg-spin of Kaneria for special treatment. Kaneria did remove Chanderpaul with the final ball of the second day, but next morning was banned for the rest of the innings by umpire Hair for following through down the middle of the pitch once too often. Shabbir Ahmed also had his problems with running on the pitch, but it was his bowling action that continued to cause comment, especially when he claimed Lara with a spiteful lifter with the second new ball after a majestic 153.

© John Wisden & Co Ltd.

Matches

West Indies v Pakistan at Kingston

Series/Tournaments

Pakistan tour of West Indies