Windies face tall order

Devendra Bishoo (right) of the West Indies bats during day three of the second Test cricket match against Pakistan at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, yesterday. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (CMC): EST INDIES were plunged into survival mode with two days of the second Test remaining after their suspect batting failed on the third day here yesterday, allowing Pakistan to take a vice grip on the contest at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Needing a huge first-innings effort after resuming on 106 for four in reply to Pakistan’s 452, West Indies were dismissed for an average 224, 20 minutes before the scheduled tea break, to concede a deficit of 228 runs.

Pakistan then dug in to reach the close on 114 for one, already 342 runs ahead, leaving West Indies with the distinct prospect of their second straight Test defeat and yet another series loss.

First Test triple century maker Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 52, while his opening partner Sami Aslam made 50 before falling 25 minutes before the close.

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PAKISTAN 1st innings WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 106 for four) L Johnson lbw b Rahat Ali 12 D Bravo lbw b Yasir Shah 43 K Brathwaite run out 21 M Samuels c Sami Aslam b Rahat Ali

30 D Bishoo b Sohail Khan 20 J Blackwood c wkp Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali 8 R Chase c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah 22 +S Hope b Yasir Shah 11 *J Holder not out 31 M Cummins b Sohail Khan 3 S Gabriel c Sohail Khan b Yasir Shah 13 (b2, lb7, nb1) 10

(all out, 94.4 overs) 224 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-65, 3-106, 4-106, 5121, 6-144, 7-169, 8-178, 9-197, 10-224.

Rahat Ali 21-8-45-3, Sohail Khan 19-8-35-2, Zulfiqar Babar 21-6-39-0, Asad Shafiq 1-0-2-0, Yasir Shah 28.4-6-86-4. Reiffel. 452

Sami Aslam c wkp Hope b Gabriel Azhar Ali not out Asad Shafiq not out (b4, lb1, nb2) (1 wkt, 39 overs) 1-93. Gabriel 8-1-21-1 (nb2), Cummins 3-0-5-0, Brathwaite 13-2-27-0, Bishoo 12-0-45-0, Holder 3-0-11-0. Pakistan lead by 342 runs. Pakistan. M Gough, R Illingworth; TV P

50 52 5 7 114