PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

West Indies were again undermined by their everlasting bane, high-class spin bowling, in the opening Test against Pakistan yesterday.

None of the batsmen came to terms with the Pakistani spin bowlers, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal the most successful with four wickets for 63 runs from 29 overs, as West Indies, choosing to bat, reached 209 for nine in their first innings at the close on the opening day.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez ended with two for 22 from 13 overs, and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman finished with two for 46 from 26 overs to complete the demolition job.

Several West Indies batsmen got starts, but none carried on. Lendl Simmons defied injury to lead the way with 49, Shivnarine Chanderpaul supported with 27, Darren Bravo scored 25, and Ramnaresh Sarwan made 23.

Greeted by a Guyana National Stadium pitch that offered the spinners appreciable turn and bounce, the West Indies batsmen were tormented from the very start, when Hafeez shared the new ball with Umar Gul.

Devon Smith was the first to fall victim, when Hafeez bamboozled and bowled him between bat and pad for 13 in the sixth over of the match to set West Indies back early.

It was the fourth straight innings that Smith was dismissed by Hafeez, following three dismissals in the preceding One-day International series, which led to the left-handed opener's omission for the last two matches.

Bravo came to the crease and battled with Simmons, making solid if not spectacular progress, helping West Indies recover from the shaky start to reach 66 for one at lunch.

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West Indies ran into further problems when they lost two wickets and Simmons to injury after the interval to reach 131 for three at tea.

Bravo was lbw playing across the line to Wahab for 25, and two overs later, Simmons was forced to retire hurt on 41, after being struck on his left knee with a delivery from Wahab Riaz.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Sarwan, and West Indies' two most experienced batsman batted resolutely for about 1^1/₂ hours, and consolidated with a stand of 46 for the third wicket.

It was clear the value of having the two players in the side, but Sarwan was caught behind off Rehman inside the last 10 minutes before tea, a decision that was upheld only after Pakistan challenged and TV umpire Asoka de Silva overturned Tony Hill's original not-out decision.

After tea, West Indies were fortunate to survive until the close, following a tantalising marathon spell from Ajmal, which tormented the batsmen.

West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash was trapped lbw for five playing back to the off-spinner who, four overs later, also trapped Carlton Baugh Jr lbw plumb in front on the back-foot for four, leaving the home team 142 for five.

Darren Sammy was fortunate not to have been stumped off Ajmal on four, when he recklessly jumped down the pitch.

But the West Indies captain failed to make use of the opportunity and was put out of his misery when Abdur Rehman had him caught at deep mid-on for 12 off the leading edge.

Three overs later, Chanderpaul was bowled between bat and pad by Ajmal, who also removed Simmons lbw after the West Indies opener resumed his innings at the fall of Sammy's wicket with Bravo as runner.

This exposed the West Indies tail, but they showed some fight before Ravi Rampaul was lbw to Hafeez for 14, and Kemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo held firm to ensure the hosts were not dismissed on the opening day.