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The hosts were dismissed for 247 and were 7/1 in the fourth innings after the visitors declared their second innings at 174/8.

By Abdullah Ansari (13th May, 2017)

Toss: West Indies won the toss, Jason Holder 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, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas

West Indies needed to bat out the first session and more to get on level terms with Pakistan but the home side suffered early blows on Day 4. It took all of four deliveries for Amir to get rid of Dowrich as the batsman inside-edged one on to his stumps. Chase, who had recovered from the injury on Day 3 resumed batting, while Yasir and Amir bowled a few overs together. Runs weren't easy to come by and after a few overs, Abbas replaced Amir in the attack. After a tight maiden first up, he delivered a yorker length delivery angling in to Chase's pads. The batsman didn't look ready for it and edged it off his pads onto the stumps for 69. Next ball, Bishoo pushed at a full delivery outside off-stump against Abbas and Younis took a fantastic, low catch. Joseph survived the hat-trick ball but couldn't get through the next over as another yorker length ball saw Joseph's stumps disturbed, again off the boot. The pacer wrapped up the innings in his next over with a full-ish delivery which Gabriel tried to flick, edged and was caught at short leg as the ecstatic Abbas celebrated his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. West Indies were bowled out for 247 as Pakistan took a 29-run lead. 

Pakistan's attempt to set a target began rather awkwardly as Azhar was dismissed in just the third over as he tried to cut a wide delivery from Gabriel but only found backward point. Chase came on to bowl the last over before lunch and got another breakthrough as Babar inside-edged one to short leg. The decision was a contentious one, however; replays showed that the ball may have touched the ground but the third umpire ruled there wasn't enough doubt to overrule the on-field decision. Masood looked uncomfortable as Pakistan resumed after the interval as he struggled to handle deliveries outside off-stump, edging a few through the cordon and playing and missing some as well. However, Younis looked to be positive in his farewell knock, slowly but surely building his innings without much of a fuss. The partnership finally came to an end as Gabriel trapped Masood plumb in front for 21 with the batsman opting for an unsuccessful review. Younis and Misbah came together at the crease for the last time in international cricket. Their partnership didn't last long, however, as Misbah went for his well-known slog but couldn't quite get it in the middle of his bat and was caught. He received a standing ovation, handshakes and a guard of honour from the Pakistan team. Younis was next to fall, and his career ended with a sweep which he top-edged for a catch. Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket received a similar farewell as the Test captain. In between all this, the visitors were in trouble at 72/4 at tea.



Shafiq and Sarfraz began proceedings after the break but Joseph struck in just the third over after the resumption. Sarfraz charged down the track to the pacer who bowled a clever bouncer which the wicket-keeper batsman couldn't handle, only succeeding in top-edging for an easy catch. The bowler's fine spell resulted in another wicket soon as Shafiq was deceived by one and popped a return catch to Joseph, bringing an end to a miserable series for the batsman. Amir and Yasir looked more assured at the crease than several of the previous batsmen; they began their partnership with a solid, defensive display to take the wind out of the bowlers' sails. After Yasir was caught behind off a Bishoo no-ball, the two began to open up a bit against the spinners. Amir smacked a couple of fours while Yasir lofted one for six in the midst. Joseph was the one who returned and got Amir for 27 as he played one in the off-side but was caught. Hasan hit a four and six and finished with a quick 15* while Yasir was the top-scorer with 38* as Pakistan declared at 174/8, setting the home side a target of 302. Amir bowled just one over in the second innings as Misbah opted to bring on Yasir to bowl with Abbas. The move paid off right at the death, as after six overs, Yasir had Powell pushing at one in the final over of the day with Masood taking an excellent low catch with West Indies ending at 7/1.

Summary: A very good day for Pakistan despite another poor second-innings display with the bat. Abbas bowled superbly to wrap up the lower order on Day 4 with only 29 runs added for the loss of 5 wickets by the home side. The batting from the visitors was poor until the point where Amir and Yasir fought it out with an invaluable fifty-run partnership, helping to take the lead over 300. Pakistan couldn't have asked for a better finish as they hurriedly got through the overs to get rid of Powell right at the death. It was also an emotional day that Pakistan fans won't forget any time soon as they bid farewell to two modern-day greats of Pakistan cricket in Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan as they played their last innings in international cricket.

Fall of wickets: 

6-218 (Dowrich, 100.4 ov)
7-239 (Chase, 110.2 ov)
8-239 (Bishoo, 110.3 ov)
9-241 (Joseph, 112.2 ov)
10-247 (Gabriel, 114.6 ov)

1-6 (Azhar Ali, 2.5 ov)
2-8 (Babar Azam, 6.6 ov)
3-57 (Shan Masood, 22.2 ov)
4-65 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 26.6 ov)
5-72 (Younis Khan, 30.5 ov)
6-82 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 33.3 ov)
7-90 (Asad Shafiq, 37.4 ov)
8-151 (Mohammad Amir, 55.3 ov)

1-7 (Powell, 6.3 ov)

Discuss!