Plaudits for Kaneria as Pakistan level series

<preform>Pakistan 374 &amp; 309, West Indies 404 & 143; Pakistan win by 136 runs</preform>

Pakistan required only 50 minutes and 12.5 overs on the final day to formalise victory by 136 runs over the West Indies in the second and final Test in Kingston yesterday, levelling the short series 1-1.

Pakistan required only 50 minutes and 12.5 overs on the final day to formalise victory by 136 runs over the West Indies in the second and final Test in Kingston yesterday, levelling the short series 1-1.

Challenged to score an imposing 280 to win on a worn pitch, the West Indies were all but beaten by a spell of high quality leg-spin bowling by Danish Kaneria in between breaks for rain on the previous afternoon. He accounted for Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul from nine balls without conceding a run after which there was no way back for the West Indies.

They resumed on 114 for 6, with only wicket-keeper Courtney Browne and fast bowlers Daren Powell, Tino Best, Reon King and Corey Collymore left to delay the inevitability of Pakistan's first Test win in the Caribbean since 1988.

Kaneria, who flies to London next week to rejoin Essex, claimed his fifth wicket of the innings with a close-in catch off pad and bat that accounted for Powell but it was Shabbir Ahmed who polished off the rest of the tail.

Browne and King were smartly taken by Kamran Akmal, diving wide to his right, carrying the impressive wicket-keeper's dismissals for the two Tests to 15 catches and a stumping and the match concluded with Best's ambitious drive that reached only as far as mid-off.

It was Shabbir's last match before he faces an International Cricket Council investigation into his suspect action after a report from the match referee and umpires in the first Test.

Kaneria, who sent back Lara and Chanderpaul on the fourth day without a run between them, finished with five for 56 to be chosen man of the match but Lara, with hundreds in the first innings of both Tests, was named man of the series.

It was the 92nd and last Test for umpire David Shepherd, the 64-year-old Englishman who was given a warm send-off by the players and presented with a signed bat of appreciation by Lara at the end.

• Gloucestershire's Steve Kirby has been banned for three days for attempted ball-tampering. The seamer was found to have deliberately rubbed the ball on concrete and tarmac during the County Championship match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens last month. The ban will be suspended until 30 September and he has been ordered to pay £125 towards the cost of the hearing.