In what did turn out to be a stunning turnaround, Pakistan outplayed the West Indies to square the two-Test cricket series at Sabina Park, Kingston (Jamaica) on June 7. The resultant outcome was due to the inspired but laid back captaincy of Inzamamul Haq.
Pakistan were depleted in ranks in the first Test at St. John's (Antigua) and were overwhelmed by the West Indies.
On the one hand, Inzamamul Haq had to miss the Antigua Test because of a one-Test ban slammed on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for showing decent in his last Test played at Bangalore.
On the other hand, Shoaib Malik had also to skip the Test after being penalised with a one-match ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for throwing a domestic Twenty20 game.
Then, experienced middle-order batsman Yousuf Youhana had to return home a day before the Test series got under way, citing his father's illness.
Despite, the unavailability of Youhana, the reintroduction of Inzamam and Shoaib Malik reinvigorated the Pakistanis at Kingston. Small wonder, they gelled as a unit and when required desperately they came up trumps and delivered the goods.
Surely, there were quite a few splendid performances on both sides of the divide.
For a start, the Pakistan deputy skipper Younis Khan shored up the first innings with a classic century. He had added 87 for the third wicket with Inzamam after Pakistan had slumped to two for 47.
But Younis was aided in more ways than one by Inzamam with a stupendous half century. That added steel to the man who had followed him, Asim Kamal.
The struggling middle-order Asim Kamal dug his heels in and with Inzamam had put on 117 for the fourth wicket with a well-crafted fifty.
In a way that was not to be the only booster to the Pakistan total. In came the thunderous Shahid Afridi and in cameo style further propelled Pakistan to the comfort of safety.
If wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal sparkled with a one-shot half ton, the rest of the Pakistan batsmen simply buckled under.
Nevertheless it was the West Indian fast bowler Corey Collymore snared seven for 78 including Younus Khan. Collymore, the fastest of West Indies bowler had bowled a superb length and line to trouble most the Pakistanis.
The West Indies reply was shored up by a spectacular 151 from Brian Lara his 30th century in Tests. Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan his former deputy notched up 141 for the third wicket with the latter posting an individual half century.
Wavell Hinds (63) was the only other West Indian to have scored a significant amount runs as they too a 30-run first innings lead.
For Pakistan, Shabbir Ahmed with four for 64 and Shahid Afridi with three for 51 were the most successful bowlers.
The second time around Pakistan were able to set a difficult targets for victory on a fast deteriorating track. Inzamam Haq slammed an unbeaten 117 his 22nd Test hundred. Shoaib Malik (64) and Younus Khan (43) were the other worthy contributors.
The pick of the West Indies bowlers was once again Corey Collymore who snapped up four for 56 for a match haul of 11 for 134.
In their second knock the West Indies were bundled out for 143. After Sarwan fell for eight, Brian Lara and skipper Chanderpul both perished ducks and for all practical purposes, the West Indies were all but in the dumps.
The wrecker-in-chief was leg spinner Danish Kaneria five for 46 and he was ably assisted by medium fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed who took four for 55. It was Kaneria's 11th five-wicket haul in Tests.
At the conclusion, Danish Kaneria was named the man-of-the-match while Brian Lara for his two centuries, the previous hundred in the Antigua Test, earned the honour of being declared the man-of-the-series.
Incidentally, whenever, Inzamamul Haq has hit a ton among his 22 Test centuries, Pakistan have gone on win on 10 occasions.
When Brian Lara achieved the same feat in his 30 Test hundreds, the West Indies have secured victory eight times. Likewise, when Javed Miandad got a hundred in his 23 Tests centuries, Pakistan have managed to win eight Test matches.
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