West Indies made Pakistan sweat on the last day in the first Test in Dubai on Monday but a combination of world class bowling and poor decision-making ended the visitors' fight. Left-hander Darren Bravo (116) was a class act once again for the West Indies, who were chasing an improbable 346. Pakistan wrapped up, what was the first pink-ball Test for both teams, with 14 overs left in the day's play to win by 56 runs.
West Indies needed a big partnership to have any chance of staying in the Test match, but the early wickets of Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood made things difficult. Pakistan had catchers around the bat when their spin duo of Yasir Shah and Mohammad Nawaz were operating, and with the disciplined line that pacer Mohammad Amir was maintaining, West Indies had their task cut out.
But West Indies did not just block and made more than a good fist of the stiff chase. When there were bad balls on offer, Bravo was happy to flay his bat at it. While Amir was more effective, it was Shah who landed the most telling blows in the contest.
Roston Chase (35) and Bravo had built a good partnership and it was the leg-spinner who brought and end to the 77-run fifth wicket stand. Two deliveries later, Shane Dowrich perished for a first ball duck and Pakistan went through a grueling session as Bravo and skipper Jason Holder blunted the bowling attack.
Despite Misbah-ul-Haq having men around the bat and prodding the West Indians, who resisted, evoking memories of Chase and Co. pulling off an improbable draw against India in August.
Bravo got to his century with a terrific cut shot off Amir and Pakistan's man with the golden arm, Shah, got the breakthrough that would firmly turn the tide in their favour. Shah dived full length to his left to complete a brilliant return catch to send Bravo back to the pavilion.
Nawaz got a ball to drift back in to catch Devendra Bishoo leg-before. West Indies surrendered meekly through a couple of foolhardy run outs as Jason Holder looked to take most of the strike, leaving a fascinating contest to come to a tame end.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 579/3 (Azhar Ali 302 not out, Sami Aslam 90; Devedra Bishoo 2/125) & 123 (Sami Aslam 44; Devendra Bishoo 8/49) beat West Indies 357 (Darren Bravo 87, Marlon Samuels 76; Yasir Shah 5/121) & 289 (Darren Bravo 116, Leon Johnson 47; Mohammad Amir 3/63, Mohammad Nawaz 2/32) by 56 runs
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