BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis: Tanvir Ahmed made an early breakthrough for Pakistan, leaving West Indies 54 for one at tea, chasing 427 for victory, after Misbah-ul-Haq scored his third career hundred on the fourth day of the second Test Monday. Tanvir bowled West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the third over of the innings, but Darren Bravo, not out on 23, and Lendl Simmons, not out on 21, batted through until the break. This followed a resolute, undefeated 102 from Misbah that propelled Pakistan to 377 for six in its second innings before it declared about an hour before tea, to chase a series-leveling victory. The Pakistan captain struck 10 fours and two sixes from 141 balls in close to five hours, sharing a fifth wicket stand of 129 with Taufeeq Umar, the other century-maker in the innings with 135, and a 62-run, sixth-wicket stand with Umar Akmal, who made 30. Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was the most successful West Indies bowler with two for 149 from 38 overs. After lunch, the Pakistanis continued to put their foot down on the accelerator, anticipating the declaration. Misbah reached his hundred from 141 balls, with a thick edge to third man for his last boundary. But Akmal was bowled by Bishoo for 30, and Mohammad Salman was caught at deep fine leg off Ravi Rampaul for eight before the declaration came. Before lunch, Taufeeq completed his fifth career hundred before gifting his wicket just before the break, leaving Pakistan 320 for four. Taufeeq was run out, after he and Misbah reinforced the Pakistanis' superiority, batting untroubled through most of the period before the interval. Taufeeq and Misbah indulged themselves on a cooperative Warner Park pitch, as their opponents employed strangely defensive tactics, and a lackadaisical approach. Left-hander Taufeeq reached his milestone from 249 balls, when he turned a delivery from Ravi Rampaul to square leg for a single. He showed signs of relief, since it followed his previous Test hundred of 111 against South Africa eight years and 30 innings ago at the Gadaffi Stadium in his hometown of Lahore. Misbah batted astutely to reach his landmark from 95 deliveries with a reverse sweep for a single off Bishoo. Just when it appeared that they would get into the swing of things, Taufeeq failed to beat a direct hit by West Indies captain Darren Sammy at the bowlers' end, and was run out about 10 minutes before the interval. He struck 13 boundaries from 314 deliveries in close to seven hours batting, equalling his previous best against South Africa eight years ago at Cape Town. Pakistan trails 0-1 in the two-Test series, following a 40-run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing its dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean. Afghan team in Islamabad Afghanistan's cricket team flew to Islamabad Monday to play three one-day matches against the host's second side, ending Pakistan's two-year pariah status as an international host. The three matches will be played in Islamabad (May 25), Rawalpindi (27) and Faisalabad (29). Sri Lanka will, however, not tour Pakistan until security issues there are sorted out, a top cricket official said Monday.
