The Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has asked for more help for the spin bowlers from his country's groundstaff after West Indies posted a massive 591 in their first innings of the second Test in Multan.
The bowler was on the wrong end of an assault by Brian Lara when, on his way to a ninth double Test century, the West Indies captain hit three sixes and two fours off one Kaneria over. "I think curators should work hard and prepare wickets that also give assistance to our bowlers," Kaneria said. "The wicket has nothing for the spinners, it's a flat track."
He had some consolation yesterday when Lara mistimed a big swipe and looped the ball to Shoaib Malik at long-on to leave the tourists seven down, and Dave Mohammed (36), Jerome Taylor (one) and Daren Powell (nine) soon departed to close the innings.
West Indies then made an early breakthrough in Pakistan's second innings with Taylor bowling Mohammad Hafeez for 18. Mohammed had Younis Khan (56) caught behind by Denesh Ramdin before Imran Farhat (70) and Mohammad Yousuf (56) took Pakistan to 213, 21 behind in the best-of-three series they lead 1-0.
Agencies