West Indies finish the day at 244/6, trail by just 37 runs after Pakistan were earlier bowled out for 281.

By Abdullah Ansari (31st October, 2016)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss, Misbah-ul-Haq chose to bat first.

Teams

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz.

West Indies: KC Brathwaite, LR Johnson, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, J Blackwood, RL Chase, SO Dowrich (wk), JO Holder (c), D Bishoo, ST Gabriel, AS Joseph.

The day began with a few quiet overs as West Indies failed to make a breakthrough straight away. The two batsmen, Amir and Yasir got a few boundaries off Joseph but the youngster finally wrapped up Pakistan's innings, dismissing both batsmen, bowled in the same over as Pakistan finished at 281 all out.

Amir and Wahab opened the bowling for Pakistan and it was the latter who broke through, dismissing Johnson LBW in just the 4th over. The pacers employed a strategy of bowling bouncers to Darren Bravo, successfully frustrating him. The strategy paid off as the batsman went after Zulfiqar soon after he came on and was caught, with Amir taking a stunning diving catch. A few overs later, it was Yasir who struck, dismissing Samuels LBW with a straighter delivery as West Indies fell to 38/3 at lunch.

West Indies began the second session on the front foot as Blackwood once again refused to be bogged down. That created some chances for Pakistan and it was Amir who dismissed the dangerous batsman as he went for a drive to a delivery that wasn't a half-volley, slicing it to gully. Brathwaite was compact at the other end, playing the bowlers with ease. He was joined by Chase who showcased more of his potential with the bat. Pakistan made bowling changes regularly but couldn't find the wicket as the opener surpassed fifty. Chase accelerated towards the end of the session as West Indies finished at 141/4 at tea.

Chase got to another fifty after Tea but his concentration gave way as he went after a wide delivery by Amir, nicking to slip where Younis took a good, diving catch. The new man, Dowrich settled down as well, ensuring that Pakistan couldn't run through the lower order. Yasir seemed to get a slight injury while fielding, with Azhar contributing a few overs in his place. He almost had the breakthrough as Dowrich top-edged one but Younis didn't manage to hang on to the chance. Wahab came on to bowl and had Dowrich caught at backward point - but a no-ball had already been signalled. The wicket-keeper showcased his aggression but it was Wahab who eventually did manage to take his wicket as Dowrich inside-edged one onto his stumps for 47. Brathwaite and Holder made it through safely to stumps with the opener unbeaten on 95, West Indies 244/6.

Summary: Another hard-fought day of Test cricket with Kraigg Brathwaite the stand-out performer. The Pakistan fast-bowlers bowled good spells through out the day but the spinners weren't able to make breakthroughs consistently as West Indies kept building partnerships in the middle of the innings despite the loss of early wickets. With the new ball due in two overs, Pakistan will hope to wrap up the innings soon tomorrow and minimise West Indies' score to prevent them from gaining a first innings lead.

Fall of wickets:

9-280 (Mohammad Amir, 90.1 ov)
10-281 (Yasir Shah, 90.5 ov)

1-6 (Johnson, 3.2 ov)
2-32 (Bravo, 11.3 ov)
3-38 (Samuels, 14.4 ov)
4-68 (Blackwood, 22.6 ov)
5-151 (Chase, 48.3 ov)
6-234 (Dowrich, 73.6 ov)

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