St Kitts (CMC):

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul spearheaded another incisive West Indies bowling effort to undermine Pakistan on the rain-hit opening day of the second Test at Warner Park yesterday.

In a destructive spell early in the morning session, the 26-year-old grabbed three quick wickets to reduce the tourists to 24 for three in the 12th over of the day, before they stumbled to the close at 180 for six.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan were in early disarray as Rampaul (3-40) ripped through the top order, to give West Indies the advantage.

He removed both openers Taufeeq Umar (11) and Mohammed Hafeez (8), and also accounted for Asad Shafiq without scoring.

Azhar Ali cracked a top score of 67, helping to restore order to the innings with two successive half-century stands.

He put on 50 for the fourth wicket with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (25) before adding a further 93 for the fifth wicket with the cavalier Umar Akmal, who struck 56.

Both fell in the space of four overs late in the day before bad light forced a premature end to the day's action.

Looking to build on their first Test win last Sunday, West Indies were out of the blocks quickly when Rampaul had Taufeeq Umar caught at the wicket in the day's eighth over at 17 for one, as the left-hander gloved one he attempted to leave alone.

In his next over with just four runs added, Rampaul induced opener Hafeez to edge a defensive prod into Lendl Simmons' grateful hands at third slip, and when Asad Shafiq slapped an innocuous short ball to Devendra Bishoo at point in his next over, Rampaul had his third wicket.

Azhar Ali and Misbah then consolidated, guiding Pakistan to 46 for three at lunch and containing the first-session damage.

Ali struck seven fours off 196 balls while Misbah looked comfortable in counting five fours off 68 balls before he lazily lifted a full length ball from Bishoo to Marlon Samuels at mid-on.

The right-handed Ali then found an ally in the aggressive Umar Akmal who was quick to attack anything loose, and they held up the Windies' advance with the best partnership of the innings.

Akmal struck four fours and one six, a slog over long on off Bishoo, but fell to a catch at third man after he edged an expansive but ill-advised drive at captain and medium pacer Darren Sammy.

West Indies then got the dangerous Ali when the batsman stroked a Sammy full toss to Ramanresh Sarwan at cover and set off for an impossible single, only to end up at the non-striker's end with Mohammed Salman (eight not out).

He departed run out to leave Pakistan struggling at 176 for six but bad light then scuppered any hopes the Windies had of making further inroads.