Published: May 03, 2017, 04:02 AM (IST)
Edited: May 03, 2017, 12:16 PM (IST)
After what started on a slow note, the Day Three of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies saw some riveting sessions as the hosts closed at 40 for 1 trailing Pakistan by 41 runs. Kraigg Brathwaite (8) and Shimron Hetmyer (22) played out the last few overs from a probing Pakistan bowling attack in a disciplined manner. The day started with Azhar Ali scoring his century followed up by Misbah-ul-Haq’s 99 which helped them post 393 on the board taking a tidy lead of 81 runs. So let us take look at some of the highlights take grabbed the attention. Full Cricket Scorecard, Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Barbados
The slow start: Resuming from the overnight score of 172 for 3, Azhar and Misbah had the responsibility of resurrecting their fallen innings. So they both started with a cautious mindset. It was very well expected that they won’t take any risks against Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph with the new ball. But they both played so cautiously that, Pakistan managed to put up just 54 runs in 26 overs from the morning session. They avoided poking their bat at anything that was outside off and resorted to taking singles.
Azhar Ali’s sleepy hundred: Azhar Ali scored his 13th Test fifty to form a strong base for the incoming batsmen. He first forged a 155-run stand for the opening wicket with Ahmed Shehzad (70) and then the useful 98-run stand with Misbah for the fourth wicket. He played a total of 278 deliveries to score 104. But once he got out, the pace of Pakistan’s scoring was increased considerably.
Misbah and the 99: At Sabina Park, Misbah remained stranded on 99* after Mohammad Abbas – the last man was trapped in the pads. But the situation was completely different at Barbados. He had a good partner in Asad Shafiq at the other end and Misbah had all the chances of going past 99 to score his 11th Test hundred. Misbah looked in great touch in the second session and there seemed no stopping to him.
But Holder brought himself into the attack and bowled a length delivery which nipped back in which bounced off the pitch. The ball hit Misbah in his pads but around the thigh pad area. Holder and the entire West Indies camp appealed only to be turned down by the umpire. But the hosts opted for a review and saw getting wasted as the ball had too much of height and was going down the leg side.
Next delivery, Holder again bowled a length delivery well outside off which sprung after hitting the deck. The bounce put Misbah in two minds- whether to go for the shot or not. But while in the dilemma, Misbah was late to withdraw his bat away from the shot and saw ball kissing his gloves and going high in the air towards Shai Hope at second slip who gobbled down an easy catch.
Pakistan’s fall: Pakistan were clearly the dominating side towards the end of the second session. But the untimely wicket of Misbah saw a major partnership of 54 coming to an abrupt end with a lead of just 4 runs. But they still had high hopes as Shafiq was at the crease and wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed had walked in. But Gabriel who had not bowled a single delivery in the entire second session was asked to bowl towards the end hoping to get at least one more wicket. And justifying his skipper’s call, Gabriel forced Sarfraz to edge to the Shane Dowrich and soon Holder got the wicket of Shafiq who was already having a tough time dealing with the swingers from West Indies pacers.
