Pakistan tighten the screws P35

abu dhabi — Pakistan are in a position to dictate terms to West Indies at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

At the end of Day Three, Pakistan lead by 342 runs in the second Test. Batting for the second time, they have scored 114 for loss of Sami Aslam from 39 overs at close of play on Sunday.

The openers — Sami and Azhar Ali — went with their business at a steady pace. They set a solid 93run partnership. Sami scored his fourth Test fifty from 111 balls with five boundaries. He was out trying to hit Shannon Gabriel’s delivery down leg side but was caught behind.

Azhar made 52 from 102 balls and along with Asad Shafiq (5) are on the crease. Pakistan are set to add another hundred to take the game beyond West Indies reach.

Earlier, Pakistan bowlers, led by spinner Yasir Shah were on target and bowled out West Indies for 224 to bag a 228-run first-inning lead. Yasir took four for 86, pacers Rahat Ali got three for 45 and Sohail Khan bowled two for 35.

West Indies went into shell and their defensive approach was their undoing.

The proceedings started as Rahat ended Jermaine Blackwood stay with a ripper that took the outside edge to keeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Blackwood managed to add 8 from 20 balls.

Sohail was brought into attack and in his fourth over send Bishoo back with a good length ball that uprooted the off stump. Bishoo made 20 during his long vigil of 66 balls. With both West Indies morning pair back and Pakistan bowlers continued to pile pressure. Six maiden overs followed Bishoo’s dismissal.

Yasir was a revelation with the new ball from the 80th over. Yasir tossed up the new red cherry and Roston Chase went for a flashy drive but ended up in hands of Asad in the second slip. Chase had held good for long and made 22 from 80 balls.

Yasir took Shai Hope out with a delivery that stayed low. He made 11 from 60 balls. Yasir tossed the ball up and used his variation to good effect. He could have added one more but Jason Holder was dropped by Muhammed Nawaz. Sohail came back to bowl Miguel Cummins (3). It was a dismissal similar to Bishoo’s wicket. And Yasir bagged his fourth in Shannon Gabriel (13), who chipped a lofted delivery to Sohail.

Holder used the long handle well and remained not out with 31 from 36 balls. Holder had a 19-run partnership with Cummins and added 27 runs with Gabriel.

The young and inexperienced West Indies tried hard but were not up to the challenge.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com