TAROUBA (Trinidad): Pakistan’s hopes of sealing their first away Test victory in more than three years were left hanging by a thread after West Indies pacers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales ripped through the tourists’ top order to leave them reeling at 28-3 atlunch on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday.
Set 211 for victory after Mohammad Abbas claimed a fivewicket haul to dismiss West Indies for 181, Pakistan lost Imam-ulHaq, Azan Awais and Salman Ali Agha inside the first 43 deliveries as the home side exploited lively seam movement, steep bounce and occasional uneven lift.
At the break, Pakistan still required 183 runs with seven wickets in hand, with Babar Azam unbeaten on 16 and Mohammad Rizwan on one.
Pakistan entered the final day needing to complete what wouldhe was eventually dismissed by Abbas after being brilliantly caught by diving Pakistan captain Babar Azam at cover.
‘We didn’t execute our plans the way we should have on the first day but for the second day and the second innings our bowlers hit the right areas and bowled a bit up (fuller),’ Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul said after Monday’s play.
‘He is so experienced. He’s played a lot of red-ball cricket and is not only leading from the front but is helping the younger bowlers as well,’ Gul added of Abbas.Abbas justified that praise as Pakistan hit back strongly in the final session on Monday, reducing West Indies to 126-7 despite an enterprising counter-attack from Joseph. However, the home side’s lower order frustrated Pakistan once again on Tuesday morning.
Resuming with only three wickets in hand, West Indies added another 55 valuable runs. Abbas removed Roach before completing his seventh Test five-wicket haul by bowling Jomel Warrican for 14 to finish with outstanding figures of 5-22.
The damage, however, had already been inflicted by the eighth-wicket partnership between Roach and Shamar late on Monday, while Warrican and Jayden Seales eked out a few more precious runs to stretch the target to 211. Shamar’s aggressive 38 and Roach’s patient 18 assumed Iven greater significance as the surface continued to assist the seamers.
Pakistan’s chase never settled.
Roach opened with a probing maiden before striking in his third over when Imam, attempting to cut a lifting delivery, gloved behind to wicketkeeper Shai Hope after the ball climbed awkwardly from a back-of-a-length.
Babar weathered the early storm and gradually found his rhythm, clipping Roach through square leg before unfurling a series of trademark straight drives that briefly eased the pressure.
But Seales ensured West Indies retained complete control.
After repeatedly beating Azan outside off stump, Seales finally tempted the opener into edging a half-volley behind, reducing Pakistan to 21-2.
Any hopes of recovery disappeared in the next over when Salman was trapped lbw by a delivery that jagged back from a probing length. Pakistan reviewed the decision in vain, leaving Seales with remarkable figures of 2-3 from four overs after his wicket maiden.
Babar continued to offer resistance with some elegant strokeplay and successfully negotiated a testing spell from Shamar Joseph, while Rizwan survived a searching examination before getting off the mark.
But with Seales extracting movement and Roach finding both swing and variable bounce, Pakistan headed into the lunch interval staring at another collapse.-AgenciesAbbas justified that praise as Pakistan hit back strongly in the final session on Monday, reducing West Indies to 126-7 despite an enterprising counter-attack from Joseph. However, the home side’s lower order frustrated Pakistan once again on Tuesday morning.
Resuming with only three wickets in hand, West Indies added another 55 valuable runs. Abbas removed Roach before completing his seventh Test five-wicket haul by bowling Jomel Warrican for 14 to finish with outstanding figures of 5-22.
The damage, however, had already been inflicted by the eighth-wicket partnership between Roach and Shamar late on Monday, while Warrican and Jayden Seales eked out a few more precious runs to stretch the target to 211. Shamar’s aggressive 38 and Roach’s patient 18 assumed Iven greater significance as the surface continued to assist the seamers.
Pakistan’s chase never settled.
Roach opened with a probing maiden before striking in his third over when Imam, attempting to cut a lifting delivery, gloved behind to wicketkeeper Shai Hope after the ball climbed awkwardly from a back-of-a-length.
Babar weathered the early storm and gradually found his rhythm, clipping Roach through square leg before unfurling a series of trademark straight drives that briefly eased the pressure.
But Seales ensured West Indies retained complete control.
After repeatedly beating Azan outside off stump, Seales finally tempted the opener into edging a half-volley behind, reducing Pakistan to 21-2.
Any hopes of recovery disappeared in the next over when Salman was trapped lbw by a delivery that jagged back from a probing length. Pakistan reviewed the decision in vain, leaving Seales with remarkable figures of 2-3 from four overs after his wicket maiden.
Babar continued to offer resistance with some elegant strokeplay and successfully negotiated a testing spell from Shamar Joseph, while Rizwan survived a searching examination before getting off the mark.
But with Seales extracting movement and Roach finding both swing and variable bounce, Pakistan headed into the lunch interval staring at another collapse.-Agencies