West Indian batsman Darren Bravo followed up Marlon Samuels' half-century to keep Pakistan at bay in the first day-night Test in Dubai on Saturday. Bravo was unbeaten on 56, with Jermaine Blackwood 14 not out, as West Indies, 211-3 at dinner, still trail Pakistan's first innings total of 579-3 declared by 368 runs with seven wickets in hand.
West Indies still need 169 more runs to avoid the follow-on. Pakistan, who removed overnight batsman Kraig Brathwaite in the second over of the day, were left frustrated by a 118-run stand for the third wicket between Samuels and Bravo. Bravo has kept the fight with his 16th half-century, completed with a fluent boundary off leg-spinner Yasir Shah. He has so far hit six boundaraies and a six.
Shah has threatened to take wickets, having so far taken 2-71 in his 26 overs. The Dubai stadium pitch has not taken much turn which Pakistan could have exploited as Bravo and Samuels were steady in the two-hour session. Samuels hit two boundaries off the first two balls he faced, driving powerfully to leg-spinner Shah and settling down quickly on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.
He took a single off spinner Mohammad Nawaz to reach his 24th Test fifty and continued in an aggressive style with 13 boundaries. Samuels looked set for his first hundred since April last year but fell leg-before to paceman Sohail Khan as he missed an incoming delivery and was caught right infornt. Samuels cracked 13 boundaries in his 139-ball stay.
Pakistan had looked for quick wickets after West Indies resumed at 69-1 and were rewarded with one when Shah bowled Brathwaite for 32 with a delivery which turned slightly and beat the bat. Pakistan's big total was built around opener Azhar Ali's unbeaten 302 which is the fourth triple century for his country. The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).
Scoreboard Scores at dinner on the third day of the first day-night Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Dubai stadium on Saturday: Pakistan, first innings: 579-3 declared (Azhar Ali 302 not out, Sami Aslam 90, Babar Azam 69, Asad Shafiq 67)
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West Indies Ist innings (overnight 69-1)
K. Brathwaite lbw b Shah 32
L. Johnson lbw b Shah 15
D. Bravo not out 56
M. Samuels lbw b Sohail 76
J. Blackwood not out 14
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Extras: (b8, lb5, nb5) 18
Total: (for 3 wkts; 77 overs) 211
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Did not bat: R. Chase, S. Dowrich, J. Holder, D. Bishoo, M. Cummins, S. Gabriel
Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Johnson), 2-69 (Brathwaite), 3-182 (Samuels)
Bowling: Amir 13-3-32-0 (1nb), Sohail 12-2-37-1, Shah 26-11-71-2, Riaz 12.3-2-31-0 (3nb), Nawaz 11-4-21-0 (1nb), Ali 2.3-1-6-0
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
Tv umpire: Martin Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).
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