Breathtaking Brathwaite

Pakistan 281 & 208 lost to West Indies 337 & 154-5 by 5wkts

JASON Holder took five wickets as West Indies claimed their first win in 14 Tests – and the first of his captaincy – but there was no doubting the real hero on an historic day in Sharjah.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite made history as the first opening batsman in Test history to finish unbeaten in both innings as the Windies claimed a fivewicket win.

After losing both the ODI and T20I series 3-0, Pakistan were odds on to secure a third whitewash in the third and final Test but they had not counted on Brathwaite.

He finished with scores of 142 not out and 60 not out as the visitors claimed a first away Test win – excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – since 2007.

“This has been the best batting Test match so far of my career,” said Brathwaite.

“I hope to repeat this feat many times in my career. I’ve had a good start, the key is to maintain it.

“I don’t want to get comfortable. I just want to continue working hard and scoring a lot of runs.”

Pakistan won the toss and batted first in Sharjah but could only manage 281 all out, Devendra Bishoo’s 4-88 the pick of the West Indies bowling.

Brathwaite then carried his bat but Wahab Riaz’ 5-88 limited them to 337 in response and the game was in the balance with the hosts batting again.

But Holder’s 5-30 in the second innings, despite Azhar Ali’s 91, set up a small chase of only 153 for the away side and Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich (60no) rescued an early collapse for a five-wicket win.

“We showed character and fight. Credit must go to Kraigg Brathwaite,” added skipper Holder.

“He played an outstanding knock in the first innings and took responsibility of the chase in the second innings.

“Even though we lost the series, we have done a lot of things right and can take a lot from this series.”