Pakistan needs six wickets, West Indies 285 runs

Pakistan pushed West Indies hard for a series-clinching win in the second Test after setting a 456-run target on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi on Monday (October 24). By the end of the day’s play, West Indies had reached 171 for 4, leaving it to bat out the final day to earn a draw or score a further 285 runs for victory.

Pakistan won the first Test – a day-night affair – by 56 runs in Dubai.

On Monday, Pakistan declared its second innings on 227 for 2 at lunch, with Asad Shafiq on 58 not out and Younis Khan unbeaten on 29, giving the bowlers five sessions to pick up ten wickets. At stumps, Jermaine Blackwood was on 41 and Roston Chase on 17 as they kept the Pakistan bowlers at bay with an unbroken 47-run fifth-wicket stand.

The two carried the fight started by Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored 67 with six boundaries and a six. Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels (23) added 49 for the third wicket but the two fell in the space of 12 runs, Samuels caught and bowled by Yasir Shah and Brathwaite lbw to Mohammad Nawaz.

West Indies’ task of saving the Test had been made even more difficult after it lost Leon Johnson (nine) and Darren Bravo (13) with the total on 63. Johnson tried to sweep Yasir only to drag it on to his stumps, while Bravo slashed a drive off Rahat Ali to point where Nawaz held the catch.

Earlier, Pakistan added 113 runs in the first session to set up the declaration after resuming on 114 for 1.

Shafiq scored his second fifty of the match with three boundaries after Azhar Ali was dismissed for 79 when he edged Miguel Cummins to slip where Jason Holder took a sharp catch. Azhar hit five boundaries during his 137-ball stay at the crease.

The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from October 30.