Windies continue fightback after Taylor haul

MULTAN, Nov 20 (Reuters) - West Indies continued their strong fightback in the second test against Pakistan, reaching the second day tea interval on 69 without loss after dismissing the home side for 357 today.

Chris Gayle (34) and Daren Ganga (34) frustrated the Pakistani bowlers by putting together a patient opening stand in 29 overs after failing in the first test defeat in Lahore.

Pakistan were bundled out before lunch, adding just 94 runs to their overnight score for the loss of six wickets, with paceman Jerome Taylor leading the tourists' charge by taking his second five-wicket haul in tests.

Resuming on 263-4 and looking to build a big total, Pakistan never recovered once Taylor (5-91) dismissed captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in the third over of the day with a beautiful ball that nipped away.

Following the loss of their skipper, none of the home batsmen were able to capitalise on the placid pitch.

Last man Danish Kaneria was run out off the final ball before the lunch interval to complete a miserable morning for Pakistan.

Taylor received admirable support from Corey Collymore, who bowled 31 overs in the innings and deserved more than the two wickets he got for 67 runs.

Gayle and Ganga, however, ensured the tourists did not gift away their wickets despite hitting ten boundaries.

Gayle, who faced 81 balls and hit four boundaries, twice saw the ball pass close to his stumps and down to the fine leg boundary as he went to cut the ball.

Ganga hit six fours in his 91 balls knock.

Young paceman Umar Gul, who took nine wickets in the first test, bowled an economical and probing spell of eight overs for 12 runs, while swing bowler Shahid Nazir could not unsettle the batsmen.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after their nine-wicket victory in Lahore last week. The final test starts on Nov. 27 in Karachi.

REUTERS SAM VC1644