Azhar, Taufeeq steady Pakistan

Georgetown (Guyana): Azhar Ali and Taufeeq Umar guided Pakistan to 45 for one in their first innings, after they lost an early wicket before lunch, in the opening Test against West Indies on Friday.

Azhar was not out on 27 and Taufeeq was not out on 13 at the interval as Pakistan started their reply to West Indies` first innings total of 226 on the second day of the Test at the Guyana National Stadium. Pakistan lost opener Mohammad Hafeez - their most prolific batsman in the preceding one-day series - in the second over of their innings, when he was bowled for four, dragging a delivery from Ravi Rampaul into his stumps. But Azhar and Taufeeq made steady progress in between a couple alarming moments. Taufeeq was fortunate on one when he edged a rising ball from Rampaul between second slip and gully for his first boundary. West Indies raised his heart rate again when he was on five, appealing unsuccessfully for a caught behind off the same bowler.

Azhar hardly placed a foot wrong and got into the thick of things with a square drive through cover and a back-foot cover drive from successive deliveries in Kemar Roach`s fifth over. Earlier, Pakistan needed half an hour to complete the demolition of the West Indies first innings, after the hosts resumed from their overnight total of 209 for nine.Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal suffered the indignity of Roach smashing a searing drive through cover for his third boundary, but he had the last laugh when he had the West Indies fast bowler caught at forward short leg for a Test-best 24 from bat-pad, playing defensively forward. Ajmal finished with the impressive figures of five for 69 from 33 overs, fellow off-spinner Hafeez supported with two for 22 off 13 overs, and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman captured two for 51 from 29 overs.Pakistan are seeking their maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean. AFP