Published: May 04, 2017, 10:09 PM (IST)
Edited: May 04, 2017, 10:29 PM (IST)
Pakistan choking in chasing down a target was seen yet again as they lost 5 wickets chasing 188 on Day Five of the second Test. West Indies pacer Shannon Gabriel took 3 for 10 leading from the front and was complemented well by Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder who took one wicket each to rattle Pakistan by the end of the first session. At the stroke of lunch, Pakistan ended at 35 for 5 with more 153 more runs needed to win this second Test and also seal the series. From the total 5 wickets that have fallen for Team Misbah, three batsmen were dismissed for duck – Babar Azam, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq. Full Cricket Scorecard, Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Barbados
On a contrasting note, the day started on a positive note for Pakistan. West Indies were 9 down at 264 with a lead of 183. Misbah straightaway got Yasir Shah – the second innings giant who had taken 6 wickets on Day Four – into the attack and without wasting much time, Yasir wrapped up West Indies innings in 5 deliveries taking 7 wickets in the innings.
But despite bowling out hosts for 268, Pakistan had to chase a tough target of 188 on a Day Five wicket with a lot of help available for the bowlers.
Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad – the Pakistan duo who started off on a sleepy note in the first innings – opened the innings and had 86 overs to chase down the target. Azhar, the centurion from the first innings, looked positive with his approach, playing cut shots against Gabriel and Joseph. But before they could put any more impact on their good start, Azhar picked up Shimron Hetmyer at mid-wicket trying to hit a short delivery from Gabriel over him.
Babar, who already had a duck to his name, faced the same fate and was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Joseph went a little haywire with his line drifting down the leg. Babar, trying to work it down the leg side, managed a thick edge which wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich took comfortably going to his left side.
The signals were quite clear that West Indies had suddenly got two wickets in quick intervals and that Pakistan collapse was around the corner.
Even though the youngsters were tottering against the Caribbean pace attack, there was a lot of responsibility on Younis Khan and Misbah – the veterans who had taken out Pakistan from such precarious situations very often.
Younis tried constructing the fallen innings, but Holder provided the breakthrough pinning the veteran in his pads. The length ball nipped back sharply and bounced very less as compared to what Younis would have anticipated. He shuffled across the crease but was beaten by the late movement and bounce getting plumb.
In came Misbah who had a successive 99 against his name. Pakistan were reeling at 27 for 3 and they needed a partnership and with Misbah at the crease, the hopes were still alive for Pakistan. But Gabriel struck gold here getting Misbah. The ball moved in late and hit Misbah on his pads. But the ball after hitting the pads lobbed at gully where Shai Hope gobbled it. West Indies opted for lbw but the replay showed a big inside edge before the ball hitting the pads. But the catch at gully from Hope gave West Indies the hopes to make it through.
They still had to get the 6 wickets and more importantly of Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed who were still awaiting their chance. But Gabriel, who was on a roll by now, got rid of Shafiq a delivery later, making him play and edging to Kieran Powell at third slip.
Shehzad and Sarfraz did make sure of not losing any further wicket by the end of the session, but with just 5 wickets – lower middle order and tail of Pakistan left – West Indies are definitely hoping to clean up the entire Pakistan team well in the second session.
Brief scores:
West Indies 312 and 268 (Kraigg Brathwaite 43, Shai Hope 90, Vishaul Singh 32; Yasir Shah 7 for 94, Mohammad Abbas 2 for 57) lead Pakistan 393 and 35 for 5 (Azhar Ali 10, Ahmed Shehzad 14*; Shannon Gabriel 3 for 10, Jason Holder 1 for 5) by 153 runs.
