Abu Dhabi: As another shameful defeat looms large before them, the only thing West Indian and of any interest in the one-sided Test series was possibly the presence of Sir Viv Richards in the commentator’s box on Monday.
And when you spot the ‘King’ catching up with one of his own blast from the past on YouTube, then you know he has resigned to his team’s fate long back. “Just having some fun,” said Richards as Pakistan started the proceedings to go for the kill on the fourth day of the second Test at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium.
The hosts chose to give themselves five sessions to complete Windies’ last rites after declaring at the stroke of lunch at 227 for two to set the visitors a stiff target of 456.
The last time Windies chased a score in excess of 400-plus runs was in their own backyard Antigua against Australia in 2003 and that doesn’t seem like it would happen again, at least not on this disastrous tour in the UAE.
At stumps, the Windies were 171 for four in 62 overs, needing another 285 for a win with Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood battling hard on an unbeaten 16 and 41, respectively.
Earlier, Asad Shafiq scored his second successive half century and remained unbeaten on 58 with veteran batsman and centurion from the first innings Younis Khan on 29. Azhar Ali was the only wicket to fall — missing out on his century by 21 runs.
On an unresponsive wicket, Yasir Shah had managed to spark life with his spin variations in the first innings. He immediately proved lethal as soon as Misbah ul Haq tossed the ball to him — getting rid of Leon Johnson bowled while attempting a sweep.
There was no shortage of effort from Rahat Ali and he was rewarded with the wicket of Darren Bravo (13). While there were celebrations in the press box with former West Indian pacer Ion Bishop cutting his 49th birthday cake, Windies took tea scrapping to 63 for two. A defiance of some sort was needed and that came from opener Kraigg Brathwaite in the company of Marlon Samuels. The duo put on a partnership of 49 for the third wicket before Samuel (23) erred, handing a return catch to Yasir.
Despite losing out on partners, Brathwaite held his fort and seemed determined not to throw away his wicket like he did in the first innings. He made a watchful 67 off 133 balls but added more misery on the inexperienced umpire Michael Gough — who had to revoke his decision for the fifth time in this Test match — curtsy Decision Review System (DRS) to give the former out leg before to Mohammad Nawaz.
Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, however, will be a hugely disappointed with his effort. He after going with a wicket in the first innings has continued to remain dry in the second innings from his 15 overs. Yasir, who also struggled a bit with his length, finished the day with a haul of two for 60.
SCORECARD
Pakistan (1st Innings) 452
West Indies (1st Innings) 224
Pakistan (2nd Innings)
(Overnight 114-1)
Sami Aslam c Hope b Gabriel 50
Azhar Ali c Holder b Cummins 79
Asad Shafiq not out 58
Younis Khan not out 29
Extras: (4b, 3lb, 1w, 3nb) 11
TOTAL: (for 2 wickets dec.) 227
Overs: 67.
Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-164.
Did not bat: Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali
Bowling: Shannon Gabriel 12-2-36-1 (2nb), Miguel Cummins 7-0-26-1 (1nb 1w), Kraigg Brathwaite 15-2-33-0, Devendra Bishoo 20-0-77-0, Jason Holder 7-0-22-0, Roston Chase 6-0-26-0
West Indies (2nd Innings)
Kraigg Brathwaite lbw b Nawaz 67
Leon Johnson b Shah 9
Darren Bravo c Nawaz b Rahat Ali 13
Marlon Samuels c and b Shah 23
Jeremaine Blackwood not out 41
Roston Chase not out 17
Extras: (1lb) 1
TOTAL: (for 4 wickets) 171
Overs: 62.
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-63, 3-112, 4-124.
Still to bat: Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel
Bowling: Sohail Khan 10-2-24-0, Rahat Ali 14-1-40-1, Yasir Shah 18-2-60-2, Zulfiqar Babar 15-5-32-0, Mohammad Nawaz 5-0-14-1
Toss: Pakistan.
Umpires: Michael Gough, England, and Richard Illingworth, England.
TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel, Australia. Match referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.
