An unbeaten century from Misbah-ul-Haq built on a solid platform provided by the openers as Pakistanis declared their first innings on 330 for 7 on day one of their two-day game against Guyana in Georgetown. Guyana had managed 25 for no loss when bad light stopped play.
After choosing to bat, Azhar Ali (57), who was promoted to opener, and Mohammad Hafeez (52) got Pakistanis going with a 92-run opening stand. Guyana then struck back with three quick wickets but Misbah was in an uncompromising mood and slammed seven fours and four sixes in just over three hours as he raced to his hundred.
He was particularly severe on offspinner Zaheer Mohamed, hitting him for a four and two sixes off consecutive deliveries as he jumped from 68 to 84 before slog-sweeping legspinner Amir Khan into the Guyana Football Club ground in the next over to bring up his century from 132 balls and prompt the declaration.
Misbah added 69 for the fourth wicket with Umar Akmal, who made 26, before his side suffered a mini-slump, losing four wickets for 39 runs. But Misbah found an able ally in Umar Gul, and the pair made merry in an unbroken stand of 86 for the eighth wicket. Misbah ended the innings on 101, while Gul was on 40.
It was the spinners who did most of the damage for Guyana. Khan, a member of West Indies Under-19 side, was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 88, while Mohamed picked up 2 for 68.
The match is the only warm-up game for the visitors before the first Test that starts on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.
