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Pakistan’s young pacer Umar Gul, who took five wickets on Saturday in the first Test against the West Indies, described Brian Lara’s wicket as “very special”.

“I was delighted to get his wicket. I didn’t have a very good first spell and I was under pressure bowling against him. His wicket is memorable for me,” he remarked.

Lara was caught behind for 61, his highest score in Pakistan where he made his debut 16-years ago.

Gul, 24, said the moisture in the pitch and the overcast conditions had helped him as a seam bowler. “I was playing against Lara for the first time and he gave glimpses of his greatness. Getting his wicket was very satisfactory,” he added.

The youngster, who took five for 31 against India at the same venue in 2004, felt no pressure despite the absence of key bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif who have been banned for doping offence. “I have been in good form for a while now and I just carried it into the match,” he said.

Lara, disappointed after his team were bowled out for 206 after winning the toss, said: “We just didn’t apply ourselves enough. It did seam a bit but there was no devil in the pitch. We should have got more runs”.

“I was expecting more after the opening stand by (Chris) Gayle and (Daren) Ganga. But one must also give credit to their bowlers who exploited the conditions well,” he remarked.

Source:The News