Shannon Gabriel's maiden five-wicket haul helped to bowl out hosts despite Sarfraz Ahmed fifty.

By Abdullah Ansari (22nd October, 2016)

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

Teams

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali.

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

West Indies took the 2nd new ball straight away at the start of the day. The bowlers were a bit looseto start until Holder came on - first he had Yasir edging one that didn't carry, then the leggie was given out LBW. However, he reviewed and it was going over the stumps. In the next over, Gabriel had Misbah LBW as the Pakistan captain once again failed to add a significant amount to his overnight score, out for 96. Yasir fought on for a few more overs until he fell to a short ball that was too much for him, getting caught at backward square leg. Sarfraz came and batted in his customary manner, putting the opposition under pressure with some counter-attacking batting after a slow start. He attacked the bowlers while Nawaz was circumspect as Pakistan brought up the 400 at Lunch.

Sarfraz got to his fifty straight after Lunch but departed in the same over as Gabriel had him bowled with a sensational yorker. Sohail lived dangerously as he first survived a review by Holder and then went for a review next ball after being ruled LBW. surviving once again. Nawaz survived for a bit longer but found run-scoring difficult and eventually succumbed to a full length delivery by Holder. Sohail decided to take the attack to the bowlers, hitting Gabriel for 3 fours and frustrating them. He was eventually out to Holder for 26, thanks to an excellent catch at midwicket. Gabriel had his 5-fer in the next over as Zulfiqar edged behind with Pakistan finishing at 452 all out.

West Indies were forced to open with Bravo rather than Brathwaite as the latter was off the field for 3 mins too long during the Pakistan innings. They began well as the bowlers didn't get much help. There were a couple of edges that didn't carry as Pakistan introduced Zulfiqar early into the attack. There were no alarms for the batsmen as they went to Tea at 27/0.

Rahat Ali struck soon after Tea with an inswinging delivery to remove Leon Johnson. The fast bowler bowled in tandem with Zulfiqar as the runs became hard to come by - however, Bravo continued his sublime form as he looked comfortable. Misbah held back Yasir, only introducing him in the 22nd over and straight away he looked a threat. The batsmen failed to score much against him and he soon struck to get the big wicket of Bravo, who was LBW as he went for a sweep. The batsman was livid with himself but had to depart. Samuels was given LBW first ball but reviewed correctly, as he had gotten an inside-edge. The bowlers continued to dry up the runs until Samuels decided to counter-attack. Rahat returned and Pakistan took a review for LBW against Brathwaite but the ball pitched outside leg. In the second last over of the day, Rahat had Samuels caught behind with a ball that moved away late, with Sami Aslam taking a superb catch. The nightwatchman Bishoo came in, but calamity struck as there was a mix-up between him and Brathwaite, with the latter getting run-out as Pakistan finished the day strongly with West Indies 106/4.

Summary: The day was fairly even until the last two overs as Pakistan made two late breakthroughs to put the visitors on the back-foot. There might have been some disappointment at how the last seven Pakistan wickets fell for 148 runs but the total of 452 was a good total on the pitch. With Yasir troubling the batsmen late in the day and Rahat generating reverse-swing, Pakistan will be confident of another positive result in the match.

Fall of wickets:

5-332 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 89.4 ov)
6-342 (Yasir Shah, 92.4 ov)
7-412 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 109.5 ov)
8-430 (Mohammad Nawaz, 114.6 ov)
9-452 (Sohail Khan, 118.3 ov)
10-452 (Zulfiqar Babar, 119.1 ov)

1-27 (Johnson, 13.1 ov)
2-65 (Bravo, 28.1 ov)
3-106 (Samuels, 43.6 ov)
4-106 (Brathwaite, 44.2 ov)

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