Yasir Shah spins Pakistan to win
Yasir drives Pakistan to Test series victory in Abu Dhabi
Yasir Shah took six wickets as Pakistan won the second Test by 133 runs and clinched the series 2-0 at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Yasir, the warhorse, bowled 21 of the entire Pakistan posers of 46 overs on the fifth day. The leg-spinner was the point man and scalped six for 124 to end with a 10-wicket haul and the man of the match award.
West Indies, though, fought hard and resisted the hungering Yasir-led attack till the 108th over to be out for 322 while chasing record 456.
They started the day needing 285 for victory and Jermaine Blackwood got them close with a gritty 127-ball 95.
The demolition started in the 72nd over as chief architect Yasir bagged Roston Chase. He drew the West Indian into the shot and got an edge for Sarfraz Ahmed to gobble. Chase, with hopes riding on him, could add only three to his overnight score and perished for 20.
Shai Hope joined Blackwood and the duo went on the offensive. Blackwood struck two boundaries each of Sohail Khan’s new and old ball overs. He rotated the strike and kept the scoreboard ticking. Runs flowed and just as the momentum was shifting Yasir dealt another blow.
Once again coming good with the new ball, Yasir took out Blackwood with a zipper. Blackwood made 95 from 127 balls with 11 boundaries and took West Indies to 244. Hope and Blackwood put on a 57-run partnership.
And just before lunch, Yasir bamboozled skipper Jason Holder, who looked good till he lasted. It was an error of judgement that led to his dismissal for 16. Yasir claimed his eighth five-for and Pakistan smelled victory.
However, Shai Hope and Devendra Bishoo put up a brief resistance of 45 runs before their partnership came to an end. Zulfiqar Babar found the opportunity to mark his presence in the wickets column. His delivery took Hope’s outside edge to Younis Khan’s safe hands in the first slip. Hope was out for 41 and marked the final collapse.
Yasir made it 10-for when he bowled Miguel Cummins for a duck. This was his second 10-wicket match haul from 18 Tests. Two overs later Zulfiqar got Bishoo to wrap up things.
West Indies had the will to fight but no experience to negotiate Yasir & Co. They didn’t promise much but didn’t also make a meek surrender.
The margin of loss – 133, is huge but then it was a team of green horns against the masters in their own backyard. Pakistan pocketed their 10th consecutive Test win and also remained unbeaten in Abu Dhabi.
The caravan now moves to Sharjah with pride left to be salvaged for the West Indies.