NEW DELHI: Pakistan moved closer to a rare away Test win after reducing West Indies to 103/6 at stumps on Day 3 of the second and final Test. Despite West Indies holding a lead of 60 runs, the hosts have only four wickets left, giving Pakistan the upper hand heading into the fourth day.West Indies ended the day on 103/6, leading by 60 runs with only four wickets remaining.Pakistan will look to dismiss the remaining batters quickly on Day 4 and chase a modest target to secure their first away Test victory since 2023. West Indies, meanwhile, are aiming to complete a 2-0 series sweep after winning the opening Test by 90 runs.Shafique’s 160 helps Pakistan take first-innings leadPakistan began the day still behind West Indies’ first-innings total of 344, but Abdullah Shafique produced a superb unbeaten 160 to guide his team to 387.His innings helped Pakistan secure a 43-run first-innings lead before the visitors were bowled out.Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican starred for West Indies with six wickets for 112 runs. He cleaned up the Pakistan lower order after already removing key batters earlier in the innings.Babar Azam‘s wait for Test hundred continuesPakistan captain Babar Azam once again missed out on a Test century.He was run out for 88 after a brilliant direct hit from Brandon King ended his 183-run partnership with Shafique. Pakistan were still trailing by 63 runs when the wicket fell.Babar attempted a quick single after pushing the ball into the off side, but Shafique changed his mind and sent him back. King collected the ball and hit the stumps with a flat throw, leaving Babar short of his ground despite a desperate dive.It was Babar’s highest Test score in 35 innings, but he is still waiting for his first Test century since scoring one against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.King injured after match-changing run-outBrandon King’s brilliant fielding effort came at a cost.The West Indies batter injured his lower back after landing awkwardly while throwing down the stumps. He had to be taken off the field, and it remains unclear whether he will be able to bat on Day 4.Warrican leads West Indies bowling attackWarrican was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies.He dismissed debutant Awais Zafar for 1 before Shamar Joseph trapped Salman Ali Agha lbw. Warrican then bowled Mohammad Rizwan for 18 with the second new ball and later finished the innings by taking three wickets in four deliveries to complete a six-wicket haul.Pakistan strikes back with the ballWest Indies made a solid start to their second innings as Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge added 40 runs for the opening wicket.However, Pakistan’s spinners quickly took control.Sajid Khan removed Chanderpaul and Amir Jangoo before West Indies recovered through a partnership between Shai Hope and captain Roston Chase.The visitors then lost three wickets in the final five overs of the day. Sajid trapped Hope lbw for 15 and dismissed Jayden Seales for a two-ball duck. On the last ball of the day, Chase lost his concentration and chipped a simple return catch to Ali Usman after scoring 17.Sajid finished the day with figures of 4/32, while Usman picked up 2/29.
Leave a Reply