Pakistan finished the day at 201/4, 85 runs in arrears after West Indies put up a first innings total of 286.

By Abdullah Ansari (23rd April, 2017)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss, Misbah-ul-Haq chose to field first.

Teams

West Indies: KC Brathwaite, KOA Powell, SO Hetmyer, SD Hope, VA Singh, SO Dowrich†, RL Chase, JO Holder*, D Bishoo, AS Joseph, ST Gabriel

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Abbas

Start of play was once again delayed due to overnight showers but the delay was for just an hour with play finally getting underway. Pakistan needed one wicket to wrap up the innings and it just took 2.3 overs before Amir castled Gabriel with a full pitched, inswinging delivery as West Indies finished on 286 all out. Azhar and Shehzad opened the batting and began positively with a few boundaries in the initial overs. Azhar played some superb shots but then went after a widish delivery with a half-hearted cut shot in an uncharacteristic manner and edged it behind for 15. The runs immediately dried up as Joseph and Holder bowled tight spells in tandem with Babar in particular struggled at the start of his time at the crease. There was a close call for Babar too as an appeal for LBW was turned down with replays showing that the decision may have been overturned on review. Shehzad finally loosened the shackles in the 14th over, hitting Joseph and then Holder for a few boundaries to put some impetus into the innings. Just as he was looking promising, Holder trapped him plumb LBW with an in-dipper as he was dismissed for 31. Younis came out to bat looking determined as ever as Pakistan went to Lunch at 59/2.

The post-lunch session provided an early opportunity for a caught and bowled chance but it was a very tough one and Babar survived. Both batsmen struggled to provide any kind of momentum to the innings with strike rotation and boundaries both scarce. Holder stuck with his four front-line bowlers as he tried to build up the pressure and force the batsmen to commit mistakes. After a prolonged period with few runs, Babar slog swept Bishoo for a six to relieve some of the pressure. Younis, in the meantime, had scored only 4 off his first 42 deliveries. Run-scoring became a tad easier as the batsmen began to rotate strike with Younis nearing his milestone. With the session winding down, Holder tried a few bowling changes with Gabriel returning to bowl a fiery spell. With six needed to reach 10,000, Younis lofted one towards the boundary but it fell short, going for four. Holder dangled the carrot for the last couple of overs with some off-spin but the batsmen didn't take the bait, playing out the session as Pakistan went to Tea at 125/2 with Younis at 9999 Test runs.

Pakistan's top Test run-scorer got to the coveted mark of 10,000 runs on the second ball of the evening session with a trademark sweep for four with ensuing celebrations from the travelling Pakistani fans and the dressing room. Babar got to his fifty in the same over with a boundary as the batsmen looked to play more freely. Younis played the off-spinners in an authoritative manner, ensuring they weren't allowed to settle as he looked to put the bad balls away and play his shots. Both Brathwaite and Chase failed to trouble the batsmen as Holder recalled his premier bowlers. The move soon paid dividends as the second over of Gabriel's spell saw him dismiss Younis as the veteran played a cover drive but failed to keep it down and was caught. The pacer struck again in his next over with a sharp delivery that moved in ever so slightly, taking the inside edge of Babar's bat onto the stumps as the batsman fell for 72. Recognising the opportunity, Holder switched to pace from both ends against Misbah and Shafiq who were both on the defensive. The batsmen looked to have no intent to score despite the second new ball's awaited arrival. Joseph and Holder bowled disciplined spells but the batsmen were resolute as the day winded down. There was a late review for caught behind but it was unsuccessful and the umpires immediately called it a day due to bad light with Pakistan at 201/4, trailing by 85 runs.

Summary: A fairly even day of Test cricket and the match is in the balance going into the last two days. The shortage of play on Day 2 probably means that a draw is still the most likely outcome and Pakistan's run-rate won't have helped their cause as they look to push for a win. West Indies' bowlers were disciplined and stuck to the task on a pitch where scoring was not easy though Babar and Younis shared in the best partnership of the innings with some resolute batting of their own. However, Misbah and Shafiq put the shutters down after and with the second new ball approaching, Pakistan will be wary of a collapse early on Day 4.

Fall of wickets: 

10-286 (Gabriel, 94.6 ov)

1-23 (Azhar Ali, 5.4 ov)
2-54 (Ahmed Shehzad, 16.3 ov)
3-185 (Younis Khan, 66.5 ov)
4-186 (Babar Azam, 68.1 ov)

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