Yasir Shah completed a six-wicket haul to spearhead a second innings rout of the West Indies and put Pakistan on the verge of a comfortable victory on the final day of the first Test on Tuesday.
Trailing on the first innings by 121 runs and resuming at the overnight position of 93 for four, the home side were dismissed for 152 after less than two hours’ play at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Needing just 32 runs for a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the tourists lost both openers and will resume after lunch at 13 for two with Babar Azam and Younis Khan at the crease.
Having taken the first four wickets late on the fourth evening, leg-spinner Shah was kept waiting for more success at the start of play on the fifth day as the visitors’ faster bowlers continued the demolition job by taking the next four wickets.
However, Shah, who bowled unchanged from one end throughout the morning’s play, was not to be denied another five-wicket innings haul. He wrapped up the innings with the wickets of tailenders Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel in the space of four deliveries in his 22nd over, finishing with the excellent innings figures of six for 63 and a match haul of eight for 154.
Shah was expected to pose an immediate threat at the start of Tuesday’s play but it was Mohammad Amir who initiated the final tumble of wickets, inducing an error of judgement from Vishaul Singh, who was bowled offering no shot to the left-arm fast bowler.
Mohammad Abbas replaced Amir and almost immediately struck two critical blows. Nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, who had defied the Pakistanis for over an hour, flashed at a wide delivery to be well caught by Younis Khan at second slip for 18.
Shane Dowrich was then trapped palpably LBW two balls later and at 129 for seven the die was effectively cast.
Jason Holder joined Roston Chase and the pair hinted briefly at a repetition of the resistance they showed a year earlier when the West Indies batted through the last day at the same venue to ensure a draw in the second Test of a four-match series against India.
History was not to be repeated, though, as Wahab Riaz replaced Abbas and accounted for the West Indies captain via a catch behind as Holder essayed a loose drive, providing the opportunity for Shah to finish off the innings in the next over.
Any expectation of Pakistan knocking off the required runs swiftly were ended by the dismissals of Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali in successive overs.
Shehzad edged a catch to wicketkeeper Dowrich off Gabriel while Ali played on to Joseph, leaving the task to be completed by the veteran Younis and heir apparent Azam on the resumption.
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