Tarouba: Captain Shan Masood scored a patient century before Pakistan’s fast bowlers fought back strongly to leave the first Test against West Indies finely poised at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Monday. At stumps on day 3, West Indies were 126 for 7 in their second innings. Holding an overall lead of 155 runs. Shamar Joseph 22 and Kemar Roach 5 were unbeaten at the close. Pakistan took 7 wickets in 43 overs to stay in the contest heading into day 4. Shan leads Pakistan to 282. Resuming on 199 for 3, Pakistan were bowled out for 282, conceding a slim 29-run first-innings deficit. Shan, who started the day on 88, anchored the innings with 109 off 184 balls, including 12 fours. It was his 7th Test century. He shared a 47-run stand with Salman Ali Agha, who was bowled by Joseph for 20. In the next over, Justin Greaves ended Shan’s knock when the left-hander played on. Greaves finished with his maiden Test five-wicket haul. Khurram Shahzad added handy runs with 19 off 36, hitting 2 fours and a six, while Mohammad Ali was 2.
Pakistan pacers strike back, Chasing a small lead, West Indies were rocked early by Pakistan’s pace attack.Mohammad Abbas was outstanding with the new ball, removing Brandon King for 5 and first-innings fifty-maker Kavem Hodge for 0 in the same over to leave the hosts at 5 for 2.
Mohammad Ali then took a sharp return catch to dismiss Amir Jangoo for 4, making it 28 for 3. Khurram Shahzad* bowled Shai Hope for 10. Tagenarine Chanderpaul 35 and Greaves 20 added 37 for the 5th wicket, but Aamir Jamal broke through. Abbas returned to remove Greaves, and Shahzad dismissed captain Roston Chase for 8 as West Indies slipped to 93 for 7. Joseph then launched a late counter-attack, smashing an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls with 3 sixes to push the lead past 150 and take West Indies to stumps without further damage.
Bowling Figure:
Abbas finished with 3 for 14 from 13 overs, including 6 maidens. Shahzad took 2 for 36, while Ali and Jamal claimed one wicket each. With 3 wickets in hand and a lead of 155, West Indies will aim to bat Pakistan out of the game on day 4, while Pakistan will look for early breakthroughs to chase down a gettable target.
Brief scores:
Pakistan: 282 (Shan Masood 109, Justin Greaves 5)
West Indie: 155 & 126/7 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 35, Shamar Joseph 22 Mohammad Abbas 3/14, Khurram Shahzad 2/36)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
