Imran Farhat smashed an unbeaten half-century Wednesday to lead a confident Pakistan recovery after Brian Lara posted his ninth double-century to give the West Indies an imposing lead on the fourth day of the second cricket Test.

Imran Farhat (70 not out), Mohammad Yousuf (56 not out) and Younis Khan (56) led the rally fightback with fluent innings as Pakistan finished the day on a healthy 213-2 in its second innings.

The home team now trails the West Indies by 21 runs with eight wickets in hand.

The same Pakistan batting trio also scored half-centuries in the first innings before Pakistan lost its momentum and was dismissed for 357.

Farhat's knock included nine fours, and Yousuf was not far behind with eight fluent fours, as they combined for 89 runs for the unfinished third wicket.

Lara's imperious 216 off 262 balls propelled the West Indies to 591 before the tourists were dismissed 40 minutes before lunch.

After Mohammad Hafeez (18) was cheaply bowled by Jerome Taylor, Farhat added exactly 100 with Khan for the second wicket before the West Indies struck early in the last session.

Khan, who completed his half-century before tea, edged left-arm spinner Dave Mohammad's first delivery to the wicketkeeper on resumption of the third session.

The West Indies missed an ideal opportunity in the next over by medium-fast bowler Dwayne Bravo when Shivnarine Chanderpaul _ playing in his 100th Test match _ spilled Farhat's catch at extra cover when the batsman was on 45.

Yousuf continued his good form this year, which has seen him scored six Test centuries, by hammering seven boundaries in his 66-ball half-century.

After a subdued start before lunch, Farhat gained confidence and hit three boundaries in off-spinner Chris Gayle's one over, while Khan faced little trouble on a flat Multan Cricket Stadium wicket that still looked ideal for batting.

Lara, who on Tuesday became only the fifth batsman in Test cricket to score a century in the first session before lunch, resumed at the overnight score of 196 and completed his double century when he drove fast bowler Umar Gul through the covers for three runs.

Paceman Shahid Nazir (2-103) got a breakthrough in the fifth over of the day after the West Indies resumed at 509-5.

Overnight batsman Denesh Ramdin (11) edged to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal before Mohammed (36) added a quickfire 40 with Lara.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, against whom Lara scored 73 runs, including three sixes and two fours in one over Tuesday, got some reprieve when he claimed the West Indies captain's wicket.

``The wicket is totally dead for bowlers, but it gives you some sort of satisfaction when you get the wicket of a world class batsman like Lara,'' Kaneria said.

Lara's entertaining seven-hour 12-minute innings, which included 22 fours and seven sixes, ended when he mistimed another big hit and holed out to Shoaib Malik at long on.

Kaneria (5-181) got his 12th five-wicket Test haul when Akmal stumped Mohammed and ended a cameo appearance of 46 balls that featured two sixes and two fours.

``I am not at all fully satisfied with my bowling performance on such a slow wicket,'' Kaneria said. ``If Lara has scored runs off my bowling, it's a good lesson for me and it would help me in getting a better bowler.''

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq (2-65) claimed the last two wickets in the space of four deliveries, trapping Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell lbw.

Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0 after nine-wicket victory in the first Test at Lahore last week.

© The Canadian Press, 2007