Shafaqna Pakistan: Pakistan’s spin attack put the visitors in a commanding position to level the two-match series after reducing the West Indies to 103-6 in their second innings, leaving the hosts with a lead of just 60 runs at the close of an action-packed third day of the second and final Test in Trinidad on Tuesday.
Earlier, Abdullah Shafique’s unbeaten 160 guided Pakistan to a first-innings total of 387, ensuring they capitalized on the strong platform established overnight.
Sajid Khan, who had already made a valuable contribution with the bat, starred with the ball by claiming four wickets in the second innings. Ali Usman picked up two scalps, including West Indies captain Roston Chase, whom he dismissed with a caught-and-bowled off the final delivery of the day.
First-innings top-scorer Justin Greaves remained unbeaten and will resume the innings on the fourth morning, while uncertainty surrounds the availability of regular opener Brandon King after his injury concerns.
On a deteriorating pitch offering sharp turn and variable bounce, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was as much in his element as 18 months earlier against these same opponents in Multan.
Here, his haul of six for 112, including three wickets in four balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings on the stroke of tea, would have been a portent of things to come.
Yet having started the day in the comfortable position of 266 for two and within sight of the West Indies first-innings total of 344, it took an error of judgement from Pakistan captain Babar Azam to trigger a gradual slide as the visitors’ last eight wickets fell for 106 runs.
Having put the West Indies bowlers to the sword with delightful, confident strokeplay on the second afternoon, Babar was a picture of strokeless paralysis at the start of the day, as if the prospect of a first Test century in almost four years had gotten the better of him.
He managed to eke out a couple of runs to add to his overnight 86 before taking off for a non-existent single and, sent back by Shafique, dived desperately but in vain as the direct hit at the striker’s end by King from point found Babar short of his ground.
West Indian delight at Babar’s dismissal was transformed to concern over the welfare of King, who remained prone on the outfield after effecting the dismissal.
After several minutes of assessment of his situation he was stretchered off with what was later diagnosed to be back spasms.
That unexpected breakthrough triggered a mini-slide as three wickets fell for five runs, fast bowler Shamar Joseph and Warrican claiming a wicket each.
Khan offered a measure of stability with Shafique, the pair putting on 59 for the seventh wicket before another pacer, Jayden Seales, removed the lower-order batsman for 30.
With the door open to a vulnerable tail, Warrican wasted no time in wrapping up the innings, taking three wickets in four balls with Shafique stranded at the non-striker’s end and leaving Pakistan to rue opportunities missed to earn a much more significant lead.
Source: Dunya News
