Dubai: Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq must be a relieved man after his team pulled off a memorable 56-run victory against West Indies in the first match of the three-Test series at the Dubai International stadium on Monday night.
The dramatic turn of events following Pakistan collapse in the second innings, after posting a mammoth 579 for 3 declared in the first innings, and the intense battle for victory made the first day-night match in the UAE a memorable one.
Misbah, however, admitted he was under pressure towards the end of the match. Answering to a query from Gulf News whether it was a blessing to be bowled out for 123 in the second innings as it gave his bowlers sufficient time to dismiss the West Indies before close of final day’s play, Misbah candidly admitted that the second innings collapse put him in a tense situation. “Don’t ask me if it was a blessing. Only I know how I spend my time on the field yesterday and today [feeling tense]. It was tough for the team and myself as captain.”
Pakistan’s collapse in the second innings for 123 raised victory hopes for the West Indies team. However, in the end, Pakistan won the match with only 12 more overs left in the match.
Misbah then went on to elaborate why he was tense. “We created a situation where suddenly you find the opposition, over whom we were on top for almost three and half days, being given all the advantage in one session. That was really tough for us.”
Misbah feels that if Pakistan would have batted longer in the second innings, West Indies would have been bowled out much early. “If we would have batted for another 15 overs and took the lead to over 400 runs we could have got them out early. When you are under pressure and when the opposition also feels they have a chance to win the game they will play positive.
“Our bowlers really fought well and worked hard for this victory. After bowling 120 overs in the first innings our bowlers, without much rest [as Pakistan were bowled out in 31.5 overs] had to bowl another 100 overs to get opposition the out. Full credit to my bowlers.”
Misbah feels the victory is a double delight: “The win is memorable because it our country’s 400th Test match. It was also special as we played with pink ball and also it was our first day-night Test. It was important to record a victory and as the whole Test was something new and victory had to be achieved at all costs.”
In the end he smiled and remarked: “It was a good Test and good for the Test cricket,” though the behaviour of the Dubai pitch surprised him. “The pitch was on the slower side, I don’t know why, but otherwise the Dubai pitch normally starts deteriorating after two days. But since the dew was helping the pitch bind again and it wasn’t breaking up at the same rate it used to do.”
