Bishoo and Shah put Test in a spin

Pakistan claim Bishoo's wicket.

The surface at the Adelaide Oval for the first ever day-night last November was grassy. And that trans-Tasmanian battle between the Aussies and the New Zealanders was done and dusted in three days with the Steve Smith's men emerging on the right side of the result.
But here, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, it was a featherbed of a pitch served up for the first day-night Test in the UAE and Asia between Pakistan and the West Indies.
And in what was a landmark Test for Pakistan, their 400th, new records and milestones were the running theme with Azhar Ali and Pakistan going to create some.
With an absolutely dead pitch staring at both teams, bucketful of runs were the promise, with the outcome of the game, a foregone conclusion.
But then, two 30-year-old leg spinners from either side, stirred it from its slumber on the fourth day and night to set up a tantalising and intriguing final day on the morrow.
 After nine wickets had fallen over the three days, 16 wickets tumbled on the fourth day.
 Pakistan leg spinner Yasir Shah had a five-for to waltz into the record books as the joint second quickest to 100 Test wickets in 17 Tests. But the most telling blow was to come later from his West Indies counterpart Devendra Bishoo.
An inspired Bishoo took career-best figures of 8-49, also the best bowling figures in the UAE, to put Pakistan in a terrible spot of bother and his side back in the contest. His inspiring performance seemed to have rubbed off on his teammates as the West Indies went about chasing a victory which is now within the realms of possibility.
The West Indies went to stumps on 95 for 2, needing 251 runs to get in three sessions on the fifth and final day on Monday.
 Darren Bravo was batting on 26 with Marlon Samuels on four after Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, had removed both the openers. Kraigg Brathwaite was castled after which left-hander Leon Johnson's gritty knock of 47 came to an end when he was adjudged leg before.
Earlier in the day, it was still Pakistan calling the shots after the West Indies had resumed on 315 for 6. And Yasir Shah struck in the fourth over of the day by having Dowrich leg before for 32.
 The 30-year-old then moved to 99 wickets when he castled Holder after the batsman had made 20. And the 100th wicket came in his next over when he rattled Cummins' stumps for nought.
 Shah pumped his fists and looked up to the sky before doing the sajdah.
 Shah joined a list that includes Australia's Charlie Turner, England's Sydney Barnes and Australia's Clarrie Grimmett. England's George Lohmann leads the list after he had reached the landmark in 16 Tests.
 Left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz then removed Devendra Bishoo for his second wicket in his debut Test to prevent the West Indies from avoiding the follow on. The West Indies first innings folded up at 357, 23 runs behind the follow-on target.
 That gave Pakistan a healthy first innings lead of 222 but captain Misbah-ul-Haq didn't enforce the follow-on and opted to go in for a second dig.
 Pakistan lost opener and triple centurion Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq leg before to pacer Shannon Gabriel and leg spinner Devendra Bishoo respectively as they went to tea on 20 for 2, a lead of 242.
 But post-tea, a pumped up Bishoo sliced through the Pakistan batting line-up to leave them on 121 for eight. Bishoo then returned to mop it all up, minutes into the dinner session. Pakistan were all out for 123 with opener Sami Aslam top scoring with 44.
 Bishoo's previous best was 6-80 against Australia in Roseau last year and this was the fifth best bowling figures for the West Indies in a list that has Jack Noreiga, Colin Croft, Lance Gibbs and Curtly Ambrose. -  james@khaleejtimes.com