Farhat helps Pakistan make strong start in second test

MULTAN, Nov 19 (Reuters) Pakistani opener Imran Farhat scored a half century to help Pakistan reach 109 for one at lunch in the second test against West Indies today.

At the interval, Farhat was on 64 and Younis Khan on six after the left hander registered his ninth test fifty from 116 balls with six fours as the home side built a solid foundation to their innings following the loss of Mohammad Hafeez for 36.

Hafeez was caught behind off Jerome Taylor when he nicked a wide ball to wicketkeeper Danesh Ramdin after hitting seven fours in his 66 balls knock.

After losing the toss and being asked to field, the West Indies toiled to make early inroads into the Pakistan order and were not helped when Dwayne Bravo dropped Farhat on 22 as he swept at off spinner Chris Gayle with the total of 56.

Besides that one chance, the opener played fluently on a pitch which had nothing in it for the seamers despite overcast conditions.

After the first test Lahore loss by nine wickets, the bowlers were frustrated by an 83-run opening stand with Corey Collymore remaining wicketless despite beating the bat consistently in a spell of 8-4-7-0.

Collymore, who conceded his first run after four maidens, was the best bowler but Taylor and Daren Powell were easily picked off by Farhat and Hafeez.

Gayle, however, got appreciable turn and troubled the batsmen encouraging skipper Brian Lara to introduce left arm spinner Dave Mohammed before lunch.

Pakistan named an unchanged side from the one that eased to victory in Lahore, while West Indies dropped experienced batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan and seamer Fidel Edwards for Powell and Runako Morton.

Meanwhile, Shivnarine Chanderpaul became the eighth West Indian to make a 100 test appearances.

REUTERS PM ND1338