BLACKWOOD MISSES CENTURY, PAKISTAN CLOSE IN

LEG-SPINNER Yasir Shah deprived West Indian batsman Jermaine Blackwood of a fighting hundred by just five runs as Pakistan closed on a seriesclinching victory in the second Test in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Shah, who has figures of 5-105 for his eighth fivewicket haul, bowled Blackwood for 95 before West Indies reached 272-7 at lunch on the fifth and final day as Pakistan were just three wickets away from victory at Sehikh Zayed Stadium. Pakistan won the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai. At the break Shai Hope was 23 not out and Devendra Bishoo five not out as West Indies – set 456 to win – still need 184 more runs to win or bat out two sessions for a draw. Blackwood defied Pakistan’s spin-cum-pace attack in the first session by adding 63 for the fifth wicket with Roston Chase (20) and another 57 with hope for the sixth to counter a weary fifth day pitch.