West Indies all out for 289 in chase of 346 after fabulous 116 by Darren Bravo.

By Abdullah Ansari (17th October, 2016)

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

Teams

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.

West Indies: KC Brathwaite, LR Johnson, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, J Blackwood, RL Chase, SO Dowrich (wk), JO Holder (c), D Bishoo, ML Cummins, ST Gabriel

The day couldn't have started in a better way for the hosts as Amir came in to bowl and had Samuels caught behind off the first delivery, helping the Pakistan players (and fans) to settle down a bit. It wasn't long before worry set in again as Bravo and Blackwood fought hard with Yasir unable to threaten much. However, Nawaz came on to bowl and rapped Blackwood on the pads - the umpire gave it not out but Pakistan reviewed what looked like a tough decision and it paid off as the ball was hitting the stumps. Chase came in and looked at ease, as West Indies got around to building another partnership. Bravo defended diligently from the other end while Chase was circumspect as West Indies went to the Tea break at 154/4.

The second session commenced with Bravo soon getting to an extremely disciplined fifty. Chase resisted well as the two batsmen frustrated Pakistan with more grit. The partnership went beyond fifty as the tension began to set in around the stadium. Just when it looked like the batsman were fully set to play a long innings, Chase looked to play a big drive against a ball out of the rough against Yasir, which proved to be an unwise decision as he was bowled. Two balls later, an excellent reverse-swinging yorker from around the wicket by Wahab Riaz accounted for Dowrich. Bravo began to play some shots as he neared his hundred in an attempt to release some pressure. Pakistan took a review for LBW but it wasn't successful. Bravo got to his hundred off the first ball bowled with the 2nd new ball, off 211 deliveries, yet another fantastic knock as West Indies went to Dinner at 232/6, needing 114 more to win.

Holder and Bravo continued their vigil after Dinner as Pakistan took another review for LBW off Amir's bowling, with the ball missing leg-stump. With the target below hundred, Pakistan went for another review off Yasir's bowling for a catch - once again, it was turned down. But then the match turned as Bravo tried driving a turning leg-spinner and inside-edged it towards Yasir's left who dived and took a stunning catch to end Bravo's 500+ ball long vigil. Holder and Bishoo held on for a bit until Nawaz got the latter dismissed LBW - he thought of a review but was timed out. Panic then set in for West Indies as Cummins was soon run out - there was confusion and Misbah seized on it, running to the pitch and just beating the man. The last man Gabriel came in, as the match entered the last 15 overs. It was another run out that finished the game as Holder went for a quick single to keep the strike, but failed as Gabriel was run out - West Indies bowled out for 289, 56 runs short.

Summary: A nerve-wracking Test match for everyone - Pakistan will be well pleased to have finished as victors but there will be some lessons learnt from the game. The second innings collapse was simply terrible and if Bravo had stayed for a bit longer, the match could have had a different result. West Indies put up a huge fight, a lot more than what many people would have expected and Pakistan will know that they are no pushovers for the remaining two Tests.

Fall of wickets:

3-95 (Samuels, 31.1 ov)
4-116 (Blackwood, 42.4 ov)
5-193 (Chase, 70.6 ov)
6-194 (Dowrich, 71.2 ov)
7-263 (Bravo, 94.6 ov)
8-276 (Bishoo, 101.5 ov)
9-277 (Cummins, 104.2 ov)
10-289 (Gabriel, 108.6 ov)

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