Resilient Brathwaite leads West Indies reply

Kraigg Brathwaite's plucky, unbeaten 95 put West Indies within touching distance of a first-innings lead on the second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah on Monday (October 31).

At stumps, West Indies was 244 for 6, trailing Pakistan's 281 by 37 runs. Jason Holder (6) was giving Brathwaite company when play was called off due to bad light.

West Indies had gotten off to a rocky start and was reduced to 38 for 3, which later became 68 for 4. But Brathwaite, the opening batsman, remained firm and added partnerships of 83 each with Roston Chase (50) and Shane Dowrich (47) to revive the innings.

West Indies' chase began with Leon Johnson trapped leg before by Wahab Riaz in the fourth over for just 1. Darren Bravo, who made a fighting hundred in the first Test, was given a testing time from Riaz and Mohammad Amir before getting out.

Bravo miscued a lofted drive off Zulfiqar Babar and was superbly snapped up by a diving Amir at extra-cover, his first catch in 20 Tests. Marlon Samuels also did not last long and was trapped leg before by Yasir Shah to leave West Indies struggling with three wickets down.

Pakistan managed just one wicket in the second session with Jermaine Blackwood caught at gully off Mohammad Amir for 23. After that, Chase and Brathwaite defied Pakistan’s spin-and-pace attack to take West Indies to 141 for 4 by tea.

Chase fell soon after tea, chasing a wide ball from Amir to slip where Younus Khan took a smart catch to his right. His exit left West Indies in trouble again, but Dowrich joined Brathwaite to continue the fightback.

Dowrich was more aggressive, hitting five boundaries and a six even as Brathwaite gutsed it out. But just when it seemed like the pair would take them through the rest of the day, Riaz knocked over Dowrich to give Pakistan a late boost. Dowrich played away from his body, only to chop one back to the stumps to be bowled for a well-made 47. Holder and Brathwaite, who hit 10 fours in his 206-ball stay, ensured no further damage.

Earlier, Devendra Bishoo finished with figures of 4 for 77 while Shannon Gabriel took 3 for 67 and Alzarri Joseph had 2 for 57 to dismiss Pakistan for 281. Pakistan added 26 to its overnight score before losing Amir for 20 and Yasir for 12, both to Joseph. The pair added 32 for the ninth wicket.

Pakistan had earlier won the first Test in Dubai by 56 runs and the second in Abu Dhabi by 133 runs.