By Shahid Hashmi in Dubai
The beauty of Test cricket is that it changes every session and you have to do well in all the session to keep afloat.
Darren Bravo batted almost the whole day to keep Pakistan at bay but fell in the closing minutes to give Pakistan an open door to run through the tail-enders. Bravo’s 402-minute 87 had defied Pakistan since morning but his tentative push on left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz brought his downfall, caught at forward short-leg by Azhar Ali.
West Indies closed the third day at 315-6, still trailing by 264 runs but have almost avoided the follow-on, not by virtue of a target of 380 but by keeping the Pakistani bowlers tired.
Bravo is a true Test player, having patience, style and determination to bat for longer periods.
West Indies needed him at the crease once they started the day at 69-1 and knew that it will be a long vigil against a dangerous bowling attack.
He proved he is one of the best batsmen in Asia, having previously scored four of his seven hundreds in this part of the world, using his feet to spinners. Bravo was all at ease against Yasir Shah and never looked in trouble versus the leg-spinner.
Bravo added 113 for the third wicket with Marlon Samuels (76) and another 77 for the fourth with Jermaine Blackwood to thrive on a flat pitch at Dubai stadium. The quality of holding the innings together was evident in Bravo’s knock.
Samuels too played a good aggressive knock, requisite when the batsman at the other end was blocking and playing cautiously. Samuels needed that big innings and looked set for his first hundred in 21 innings but missed an incoimng delivery from fast bowler Sohail Khan and was trapped leg-before.
The pink ball did not turn much, nor was the pitch any helpful as Yasir Shah looked for wickets. He needed five in this innings to become the second-joint fastest to 100 Test wickets. He got two starting with the wicket of Kraig Brathwaite in the second over of the day.
Pakistan then had to wait for long for the third wicket and it only came close to the dinner break.
When Pakistan took the second new ball Wahab Riaz bowled a fiery spell to dismiss Blackwood (37) and Roston Chase (six) both beaten by the pace and were bounced out.