West Indies cricket coach Bennett King
says his team has to raise its fielding standards in the final Test
in a bid to level the series against Pakistan.
Brian Lara's men came close to squaring the series in the second
Test at Multan on Thursday, before prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf
made a splendid 191 to draw the match and helped Pakistan keep its
1-0 lead intact in the rubber.
Pakistan won the first Test by nine wickets inside four days, and
the third and final test begins Monday in Pakistan's largest city,
Karachi.
``We certainly had our opportunities and were in a strong
position (at Multan),'' King said Saturday.
Runako Morton dropped a crucial catch off Yousuf on 108 that
could have had turned the Test in the West Indies' favour on the
last day, after Pakistan conceded a heavy 234-run first-innings
lead.
``I wouldn't say it was disappointing (performance), but we've
only got ourselves to blame for the result and need to raise our
fielding,'' King said.
``I think our bowling has been not too bad, but we haven't taken
our opportunities in the fielding.''
Yousuf had fully capitalized on the four chances in the first two
Test matches, compiling scores of 192, 56 and 191 in the three
innings.
He has raised his runs tally in 10 Test matches to 1,562 in 2006,
and is now 149 runs away to beat Sir Vivian Richards' world record
of 1,710 runs in a year, made by the former West Indies captain in
11 test matches 30 years ago.
``We dropped him (Yousuf) in the first Test, and let him off the
hook in the second Test as well,'' Bennett said.
``He is certainly a good player and in form, and we will
certainly take care. If we take our opportunities, we can be in a
strong position again.''
King was satisfied with his batters' performances on
batsmen-friendly wickets in Pakistan, but wants his fielders to take
their chances in order to stop a strong Pakistan batting line-up.
``We are setting up batting very well, but on these type of
wickets you don't get a lot of opportunity (in the fielding).
``When they come your way you need to make sure you take them.''
Lara led the West Indies from front with a masterful
double-century at Multan in the West Indies strong reply of 591,
after fast bowler Jerome Taylor's five-wicket haul had restricted
Pakistan to 357 on a flat batting wicket.
West Indies has been away from home for the last three months,
playing the final of triangular series in Malaysia against Australia
in which India was the other participating team. Lara's men then
qualified for the main round of the ICC Champions Trophy in India,
and went on to play the final before once again it was beaten by
world champion Australia.
However, King said playing nonstop cricket is not affecting his
team's performance.
``We are very determined,'' King said.
``We have been on the road for three months and the boys played
some of the best cricket on the fifth day (at Multan) when most
sides have probably start to feel the effects of long tour.
``But these boys have shown mental fortitude. I am very
encouraged by the performance of the last game and we expect to go
from strength to strength.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007