Yasir Shah on Monday ripped through the West Indies’ top order in the final session of another long day to put Pakistan on course for victory at the end of the fourth day of the first Test at Sabina Park.
After captain Misbah-ul-Haq became just the sixth batsman in Test history to be left stranded on 99 not out as Pakistan were dismissed for 407 in their first innings, the hosts, trailing by 121 runs, were reduced to 93-4 at stumps, with Shah taking all four of the wickets.
They went into the final day needing another 28 runs to erase the first-innings deficit with a pair of nightwatchman, Devendra Bishoo and debutant Vishaul Singh, expected to be under immense pressure, especially from the rampant leg-spinner, when play got underway on a wearing pitch on the final morning.
Photo: AFP
Shah struck with his very first delivery, bowling Kraigg Brathwaite with a ball that skidded through on the opening batsman.
He quickly added the scalps of newcomer Shimron Hetmayer and Shai Hope, before finishing off with the important wicket of Kieran Powell, the opener taken at slip by Younis Khan for a well-played 49.
That late drama was in contrast to the pedestrian progress through the first two sessions of the day as Misbah worked his team into a dominant position, despite being left one run short of an 11th Test century.
Last man and debutant Mohammad Abbas was trapped leg before wicket by Roston Chase on the stroke of the tea interval.
In his usual phlegmatic manner, Misbah ensured Pakistan constructed their position of dominance via a succession of partnerships after they resumed on the fourth morning at 201-4 and facing the threat of the second new ball.
It was Bishoo who eventually broke an 88-run sixth-wicket stand between Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed, the wicketkeeper-batsman playing in his usual pugnacious manner in getting to 54 before he was bowled around his legs attempting a sweep just after lunch.
“I just wanted to upset the fast bowlers’ line by doing a few unorthodox things because they were bowling very well,” Ahmed said. “It’s all part of my game to be positive and today it came off.”
During the course of his innings, Ahmed went past 2,000 runs in his Test career.
Misbah achieved a milestone of his own when he notched his 5,000th Test run before reaching the half-century mark.
Misbah’s innings spanned nine minutes short of six hours, during which he faced 223 deliveries, striking three sixes and five fours.
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