Ahmed gives Pakistan valuable, late boost

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, May 21, 2011 (AFP) - Tanvir Ahmed completed a maiden half-century and frustrated West Indies with Saeed Ajmal for close to two hours, as Pakistan were dismissed for 272 shortly before lunch in the second Test on Saturday.

Tanvir led a late recovery for the Pakistanis with 57 and Ajmal was not out on 23, establishing a new ground record of 78 for the last wicket on the second day of the Test at Warner Park.

The visitors' tail-enders defied the West Indies decision to take the second new ball, mixing occasional strokes of adventure with resolute batting, after their side slumped to 194 for nine inside the first hour.

Tanvir reached his 50 from 93 balls, when he edged a delivery outside the off-stump from Ravi Rampaul wide of slip, and into the third-man boundary for his ninth four.

But he was dismissed, when he played back and across to a leg-break from Devendra Bishoo, and was adjudged lbw, a decision he unsuccessfully had reviewed.

He had served early notice, when he rocked onto the back-foot, and pulled a short delivery from Bishoo over mid-wicket for his first boundary, a similar shot he executed a few overs later off Rampaul for this third four.

Ajmal joined the fun, when he top-edged a hook from Kemar Roach to the fine-leg boundary for his first four, and upper cut another short, rising delivery from Rampaul over the third-man boundary for six.

Tanvir lofted Bishoo over mid-wicket for his fifth boundary to raise the 50 partnership with Ajmal before the leg-spinner brought the innings to a close a few overs later.