Goolie Keeps Pakistan Waiting
News Desk
Port of Spain: Pakistan looked set to wrap up the West Indies Select XI innings in emphatic fashion before a stubborn lower-order resistance denied the tourists a dream finish on day three of the four-day warm-up match at Queen’s Park Oval.
Having declared their first innings at a commanding 455-4 overnight, Pakistan tore through the Select XI’s middle order after tea, reducing the hosts from a comfortable 151-1 to 212-8 in a dramatic collapse.
With victory seemingly within reach, Jyd Goolie and captain Jomel Warrican mounted a spirited fightback, frustrating Pakistan’s bowlers with an unbroken 56-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Goolie remained unbeaten on 46, while Warrican finished the day on 24 as the hosts closed on 268-8, still 187 runs behind.
Earlier, the Select XI had threatened to erase Pakistan’s advantage through an impressive 148-run stand between Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge after the early dismissal of Cephas Cooper.
Veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas struck in the third over to trap Cooper lbw for one, but Chanderpaul and Hodge rebuilt patiently, handling Pakistan’s pace attack with composure before gradually accelerating.
Hodge was the aggressor, mixing elegant stroke play with confident sweeps against left-arm spinner Ali Usman, while Chanderpaul anchored the innings with trademark discipline. The pair guided the hosts to 76-1 at lunch before both reached well-crafted half-centuries in the second session.
The breakthrough finally came when Chanderpaul fell for 51, top-edging a sweep off Usman after adding 148 runs with Hodge for the second wicket.
Pakistan seized complete control around the tea interval. Mohammad Ali removed Mbeki Joseph before the break and returned immediately afterwards to bowl Joshua Da Silva with the first ball of the final session. Usman then struck the decisive blow by trapping Hodge lbw for an excellent 92, triggering a collapse that saw four wickets fall without significant resistance.
Mohammad Abbas added another wicket, while Aamir Jamal dismissed Terrance Hinds and Anderson Phillip in the same over after Hinds’ brief counter-attacking cameo of 24, leaving the Select XI reeling at 212-8.
Just as Pakistan appeared poised to finish the innings before stumps, Goolie and Warrican frustrated the tourists with disciplined batting. Their determined stand ensured the West Indies Select XI survived the day, forcing Pakistan to return on the final morning in search of the last two wickets.
