Published: Oct 17, 2016, 03:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 18, 2016, 07:29 PM (IST)
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates post of the fifth day’s play in the opening Test between Pakistan and West Indies. This is the first ever day-night Test for these two teams and the second in cricketing history. The match is being held at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, which has sadly not seen much crowd flush into the stadium. Pakistan have dominated right from Day One and has been moving from a position of strength but their second collapse in the second innings and West Indies’ watchful batting in the last session of Day Four has suddenly injected life to this match. West Indies are still 251 runs behind the target with two wickets down but their most experienced campaigners, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, are out in the middle. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st Test at Dubai
There was hardly any colour or flair in the Test and looked for heading towards a draw or a Pakistani victory but Devendra Bishoo‘s spin rattled the hosts’ batting line-up when they were going for the glory shots in order to post a competitive target. In the first session of Day Four, West Indies were bowled out for 357 giving Pakistan a healthy lead of 222 runs. Their intent was to go out and add some quick runs to their existing total but that was not the case. Bishoo meant business from the outset and kept chipping wickets at regular intervals. He broke the backbone of Pakistan’s batting after Shannon Gabriel drilled a hole early on by removing the on song and first innings star, Azhar Ali. Azhar had made a stunning triple century in the first innings to lay a solid platform for his side.
Bishoo, who finished with 8 scalps for 49 runs, single-handedly turned the game on its head and infused some intensity with his stellar performance. West Indies didn’t start well as they lost Kraigg Brathwaite early after which Bravo and Leon Johnson played with ease to put a 60-runs stand between them. Out of nowhere, a peach of a delivery from Mohammad Aamer brought an end to the latter’s innings. West Indies’ two most reliable and experienced players, Bravo and Samuels took charge and thus no further damage in the centre.
With Bishoo inflicting most of the damage on Day Four, Pakistan will bank on Yasir Shah to get the job done and scalp as many wickets as possible on the final day. The pitch has a lot of cracks, which will come handy for the spinners. Aamer has fired and looked in good rhythm. Pakistan have the gun power to bring down West Indies and will give their best to do so.
West Indies, on the other hand, have a golden opportunity to cause an upset as they have returned from the dead in the second innings and will look to make the most of the gained momentum. They have the option of going for the kill or just saving the Test, which is highly unlikely. Bravo and Samuels will set the tone for the team but others will have to step up. This can be West Indies big chance to stun the No. 2 side in ICC Test rankings and make a strong statement. However, West Indies have a habit of losing wickets in clusters and the likes of Shane Dorwich, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood and Jason Holder will be expected to be up for the challenge.
