West Indies’ Gabriel, Bishoo put Pakistan on the back foot
sharjah — The West Indies bowlers have built a solid foundation for their team and would hope their batsmen could consolidate their position to deny Pakistan a complete ‘tour whitewash’.
Shannon Gabriel (3 for 58) ensured that the third successive loss for Jason Holder at the toss would not hurt the Windies much as he bowled with a lot of fire, accuracy and purpose.
And spinner Devendra Bishoo (4 for 74) didn’t allow the late order to flourish. Roston Chase broke a partnership that was threatening to take the game away from them after Gabriel’s initial inroads. He removed half centurion Younis Khan.
Sami Aslam (74 runs, seven 4s, one 6) and Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (53, three 4s, one 6) Bishoo.
Four of the Pakistani batsmen got past the half century mark but none could consolidate and Pakistan were 255 for 8 when bad light ended play seven overs early at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Misbah’s decision to bat first backfired as West Indies grabbed two wickets in the very first over of the match. West Indies got off to the best start of the series as Gabriel sent Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq back in the pavilion on the second and fourth deliveries of the match to leave Pakistan two down with only a run on the scoreboard.
Gabriel who got his first 5-wicket haul in the second Test in Abu Dhabi, bowled an incisive first over to put Pakistan on the back foot. Gabriel has snared Azhar thrice in the series. The pitch looked lively as the Caribbean fast bowler produced were dismissed by
Sami Aslam c Holder b Bishoo Azhar Ali c Brathwaite b Gabriel Asad Shafiq lbw b Gabriel Younis Khan c Johnson b Chase Misbah c Dowrich b Bishoo Sarfraz Ahmed b Gabriel Mohd Nawaz st Dowrich b Bishoo Wahab Riaz lbw b Bishoo Yasir Shah not out Mohammad Amir not out
(lb4, nb4, w1)
some pace to rattle Pakistan’s premier batsman Younis Khan with a bouncer.
Younis (51, four 4s, one 6) and Sami played cautiously to steer Pakistan out of trouble. The duo put on 106 runs as the Windies fielders missed a couple of chances to send Younis back. Shane Dowrich failed to effect a stumping chance off Roston Chase’s bowling Fifties in 12 Test innings for Sami Aslam. His highest being 90 The last time Pakistan lost more than one wicket in the 1st over of a Test
Zulfiqar Babar 1-1 (Ali), 2-1 (Shafiq), 3-107 (Younis), 4-150 (Aslam), 5-230 (Misbah), 6-242 (Nawaz), 7-248 (Ahmed), 8-248 (Riaz). Gabriel 17-1-58-3 (2nb), Joseph 15-5-43-0 (2nb, 1w), Holder 12-4-29-0, Chase 20-5-47-1, Bishoo 19-2-74-4 K. Brathwaite, L. Johnson, D. Bravo, M. Samuels, J. Blackwood, R. Chase, S. Dowrich, J. Holder, D. Bishoo, S. Gabriel, A. Joseph Pakistan Michael Gough (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) Richard Illingworth (ENG) Jeff Crowe (NZL)
when Younis was on 30. He finally departed in the 38th over after scoring 51. He played an uncharacteristic shot trying to loft Chase and was taken at midwicket by Leon Johnson.
Misbah has set another record by becoming the most capped (49) Test captain of Pakistan. Legendary Imran Khan (48 Tests) held the record previously.
Sami played a mature knock by mixing aggression with caution. The wickets were tumbling at the other end but the left-hander showed great composure and played sensibly. He fell to Bishoo attempting a reverse sweep like his captain. Misbah also fell trying a reverse sweep one too many times against Bishoo and in the process gave a catch to the keeper. He reviewed the decision but third umpire, after taking a long look, agreed with the field umpire.
Sarfraz looked untroubled during his innings of 51 but tried to play an outgoing ball by Gabriel and played on.
A sizeable crowd of students from different schools made their vocal entry. The entry is free for students for the third Test in Sharjah as they can come and watch the match by showing their school IDs.
liaqat@khaleejtimes.com