Pakistan take lead in West Indies Test series in Dubai

Dubai - Chasing 346 runs, the West Indies were all out for 289.

A year ago to this day, England had come agonisingly close to pulling off a heist against Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
On that murky evening, Alastair Cook's men had embarked on getting 99 from the 19 overs in fading light. And on that occasion, light had denied the Englishmen and that enthralling contest which had sparked to life on the final day, ended in a draw, with mustering 74 for 4 in 11 overs.
A year on in Dubai, the West Indies came close to doing something similar against Pakistan in this first ever day-night Test in the UAE and Asia. Hand held throughout the day and also under the lights of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by a brave Darren Bravo, the West Indies eyed an improbable win.
But having come to the doorstep, Pakistan, who were left in a bit of a puzzle and had more than a few creases on the forehead, were given a glimpse by the West Indies. And Misbah-ul-Haq and his men kept their wits to pull a heist of their own.
And in a finish befitting this day-night Test, Pakistan won this thriller by 56 runs in the final minutes of the final session of this Test match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday night.
Chasing 346 runs, the West Indies were all out for 289. Bravo, the cousin of West Indies great Brian Lara, had stood between Pakistan and a victory right through the final day by unravelling a defiant knock.
The elegant left-hander was stoic in the face of some tight bowling by the Pakistan attack and strode to his eighth Test hundred in 47 Tests. He and Roston Chase s well as captain Jason Holder defied Pakistan before it took an acrobatic return catch from leg spinner Yasir Shah to break the resistance.
Bravo had got the West Indies within a whiff with 83 runs still to get when Shah lept in the air to spark celebrations in the Pakistan camp. As Shah pumped his fists into the air, a dejected Bravo was on his knees with his head sunk, before he gathered himself and walked off the pitch. Bravo was involved in three vital partnerships through the day, first a 21-run stand with Jermaine Blackwood and then two fruitful ones of 77 and 69 for the fifth and seventh wickets with Chase and Holder.
The West Indies had resumed the fifth day on 95 for 2, needing 251 runs more for an unlikely victory. And it was a good start for Pakistan after left-arm quick Mohammad Amir sent Samuels on his way after the batsman nicked a cross-seamer to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, in the first ball of the day.
Bravo then added 21 with Jermaine Blackwood for the fourth wicket before left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz played his part in dismissing Blackwood. Blackwood played across to a quicker one from Nawaz and was rapped on the pads. It was not given by the on-field umpire and Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq asked for a review.
The review showed the ball pitched in-line and the impact was in-line. Pakistan had got a whiff but then Bravo and Chase snuffed that out by negating the Pakistan attack. Leg spinner Yasir Shah, who became the joint second fastest to 100 wickets on Sunday, bowled eight overs in the first session but couldn't get a wicket.
 Bravo found an able ally in Chase and the duo reignited the chase by putting on 38 runs for the fifth wicket before heading for tea, during which the pink ball was changed as it had gone out of shape Chase, who had scored an unbeaten 137 to help the West Indies draw the Test against India at Sabina Park, Jamaica, two months ago, made 35. But Chase was castled while trying to force the issue against leg spinner Yasir Shah.
Bravo and Chase's partnership came from 170 balls and the latter departed with still 50 overs remaining in the night. Left-arm quick Wahab Riaz then disturbed Dowrich's furniture in the next over to leave the West Indies on 194 for 6.
Holder walked out to the middle and had to sum up another fighting innings like the one against England in Antigua last April, and he had done well so far. Holder had scored an unbeaten 103 to help save that Test.
Pakistan took the new ball with 13 minutes to go for dinner with Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq tossing to Mohammad Amir, who was the most successful bowler with three wickets. But Bravo smacked him for a boundary to get to his Test hundred in 329 minutes.
Seven of his eight Test hundreds have come outside the Caribbean and this was his fifth in Asia.
james@khaleejtimes.com