Windies need 280 to beat Pakistan
Published:Tuesday | August 24, 2021 | 12:09 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
It was a day where Pakistan’s seamers, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, had a field day, but when stumps were drawn on the fourth day, the home side will need 280 runs to win the second Test with nine wickets in hand, after going in at stumps at 49 for one at Sabina Park in Kingston yesterday.
The scenario came about after Pakistan had first dismissed the West Indies for 150, and with a lead of 152 runs, the visitors quickly piled on the runs to finish their second innings on 176 for six, before declaring for a second time to set the home side 329 runs to win.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite will resume this morning on 17 and with him is nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph who is not out on eight. The Windies were resolute in the final session, staving off the Pakistani quicks to get to 34 runs. However, Kieron Powell ran himself out for 23.
Earlier, it was one of the bright stars of the Pakistani bowling unit who garnered all the plaudits, as Afridi bowled with pace and accuracy to claim a career-best six wickets to restrict the West Indies in their first innings.
The Windies had resumed on 39 for three and was looking to make inroads into Pakistan’s big first-innings total of 302. However, Afridi, who had two wickets from the previous day, had other ideas, as he used his pace and aggression to great effect to rip through the home side’s batting order.
After sending back Joseph for four, Afridi then claimed the wickets of Jermaine Blackwood (33), Jason Holder (26), and Kemar Roach (eight), to end with figures of 17 overs and three deliveries, seven maidens, six for 51.
His bowling partners were just as impressive as Mohammad Abbas picked up three wickets, including the crucial wicket of Nkrumah Bonner who made 37 after the right-hander had shared in a 60-run fifth-wicket partnership with Blackwood.
Abbas was even on a hat-trick, after he sent back Kyle Mayers for his third duck of the series.
With a healthy 152-run lead, the visitors went for quick runs and it got them through an opening stand of 70 in less than 10 overs from Imran Butt, who made 37, and Abid Ali 29.
Captain Babar Azam contributed 33 while Azar Ali made 22 against two wickets for Joseph and Holder.