West Indies continued to build on a fine show on day one by recovering from 38/3 to post 244/6 at the close of play on the second day's play at Sharjah on Monday. After bowling out Pakistan for 281, the Windies' reply was shepherded by Kraigg Brathwaite's (95 not out) fighting knock. The opener was well supported by Roston Chase (50) and Shane Dowrich (47), and the visitors were trailing Misbah-ul-Haq's side by only 37 runs at the close of play on the second day.
West Indies did well in the morning session to dismiss Pakistan quickly. Mohammad Amir was showing resistance through a couple of handsome boundaries but pacer Alzarri Joseph put an early end to his innings, and cleaned up Yasir Shah too.
It looked like West Indies would succumb to yet another tepid collapse. Wahab Riaz trapped Leon Johnson leg-before. Then, Amir pulled off an extraordinary diving catch at cover to bring an end to Darren Bravo's stay at the crease. It was Amir's first catch in Test cricket and it took him 20 matches – it was the longest time a player had to wait – before grabbing one.
Yasir Shah dismissed Marlon Samuels for a duck and West Indies needed a big partnership to bail them out. After looking so comfortable at the crease, Jermaine Blackwood fell to Amir but the Windies took the second session through Brathwaite and Chase. The all-rounder survived a hostile spell from Shah and settled in with a ferocious six over long-on from the leg-spinner's bowling.
Brathwaite dropped anchor, focusing on blunting the Pakistan bowlers down. Amir came back to end the 83-run fifth wicket stand. Younis Khan took a sharp catch at first slip as Chase needlessly chased outside the off-stump. West Indies' good work with the bat, though, continued through Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich, who added another 83 runs.
Dowrich fell to Wahab Riaz in the closing stages of the day's play. The fading lights brought a slightly early end to the day's play, denying Brathwaite a chance to complete his hundred. However, Amir was was the star of the show in the final hour of the day's play, getting the ball to reverse and shape away from the right-handers at will.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 281 (Sami Aslam 74, Misbah ul Haq 53; Devendra Bishoo 4/77, Shannon Gabriel 3/67) lead West Indies 244/6 (Kraigg Brathwaite 95 not out, Roston Chase 50; Mohammad Amir 2/44, Wahab Riaz 2/65) by 37 runs
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