Taufiq's batting gives Pakistan edge over Windies

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BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis: Taufiq Umar continued to help Pakistan dictate terms with a half-century, anchoring his side to 131 for one in their second innings - an overall lead of 180 - at tea in the second Test against West Indies on Sunday.

Taufiq was unbeaten on a chancy 65 and Azhar Ali was not out on 33, after the Pakistanis, looking for a series-levelling victory, dismissed West Indies for 223 before lunch to grab a first innings lead of 49.

The visitors' second wicket pair have added 49 - unbroken - to fortify their side's position, following the dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez for 32.

Taufiq tugged a delivery from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo through mid-on for a single to reach his 50 from 82 balls, but he was very fortunate to have survived until the break.

He was 56, when he advanced to a flighted delivery from Bishoo, missed a flick, and fortunate the ball ricocheted from the pad.

This wrong-footed West Indies wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr, who failed to gather, and effect a difficult stumping chance, with the batsman stranded.

Taufiq has struck eight fours from 139 balls in close to four hours, having also survived two dropped chances before lunch.

The Pakistan left-handed opener was one, when he edged Kemar Roach to first slip, where Darren Bravo dropped a straightforward offering, and on 13, he edged the same bowler to second slip, where West Indies captain Darren Sammy put him down.

Taufiq and Hafeez, who had also survived two chances before lunch, put on 82 for the first wicket before Sammy made a breakthrough for West Indies.

Hafeez drove loosely at an off-cutter, and was bowled off the inside-edge for 32.

Azhar came to the crease, and announced himself with an on-drive off Sammy for his first boundary, and was the perfect foil for Taufeeq.

Before lunch, Taufiq and Hafeez had cut loose after surviving early scares, carrying Pakistan to 55 without loss.

The two openers indulged themselves, hitting 11 boundaries between them, helping to engineer a bright start to the visitors' second innings.

Taufiq got into stride, punching a delivery in Roach's second over through mid-on for his first boundary, and Hafeez got off the mark in the following over, when he pulled a short, rising delivery from Rampaul through mid-wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan were frustrated, as West Indies, starting the day on 184 for eight, extended their innings for about 1 < hours into the morning period thanks to their tail-enders.

Hafeez made the breakthrough however, when he trapped Roach lbw playing back and across for a career-best 29, following a valuable 60-run stand for the ninth wicket with Rampaul.

Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan's most penetrative bowler in the brief series, brought the innings to a close, when Devendra Bishoo edged a forward defensive shot, and was caught at slip for one.

Hafeez was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with a career-best three for 23 from eight overs, fellow off-spinner Ajmal ended with three for 56 off 28.5 overs, and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman captured two for 55 from 29 overs.

The visitors trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, following a 40-run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing their dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean.