Pakistan gain upper hand over West Indies

First Test
Abbas-led bowling attack reduces hosts to 126/7 in their second innings
TAROUBA: Pakistan seized control of the first Test against West Indies on Monday as Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad shared five wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 126/7 by stumps on the third day, with only a 155-run lead at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA).
At stumps on Day 3, the hosts were 126/7 in their second innings, leading by 155 runs, with lower-order batters Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach unbeaten on 22 and five, respectively.
After taking a useful 29-run first-innings lead by bowling Pakistan out for 282, West Indies failed to build on their advantage as Abbas dismissed Brandon King (5) and Kavem Hodge (0) in the eventful fourth over to hand Pakistan an ideal start with the ball.
Following the early setbacks, Amir Jangoo (4) joined opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and the pair cautiously added 21 runs for the third wicket before Mohammad Ali had Jangoo caught behind in the 14th over, reducing West Indies to 28/3.
Mohammad Ali struck again three overs later when he dismissed experienced wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (10), leaving the hosts struggling at 43/4.
After the collapse, all-rounder Justin Greaves joined left-handed opener Chanderpaul, and the pair added 37 runs for the fifth wicket before Aamir Jamal removed Chanderpaul, who top-scored for West Indies with 35 from 101 deliveries.
West Indies then lost two more wickets in quick succession as Abbas dismissed Greaves (20), while Khurram Shahzad had captain Roston Chase (8) caught behind, leaving the hosts in trouble at 93/7.
Lower-order pair Joseph and Roach then frustrated the Pakistan attack with an unbeaten 33-run stand for the eighth wicket, ensuring West Indies suffered no further setbacks before the close.
The pair will resume the innings on the penultimate day as the hosts look to set Pakistan a challenging victory target.
For Pakistan, Abbas has so far taken 3/14 in 13 overs, while Shahzad has claimed two wickets. Mohammad Ali and Jamal have taken one wicket each.
Earlier in the day, Justin Greaves’ five-wicket haul helped West Indies bowl Pakistan out for 282 despite a resolute century from Shan Masood, after the hosts had posted 311 in their first innings.
Pakistan, who resumed their innings after lunch at 267/8 in reply to West Indies’ 311, added just 15 more runs before being dismissed for 282 in 80.1 overs.
The visitors made a poor start to the second session as Greaves dismissed No. 10 Mohammad Abbas for a duck to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Shahzad offered some resistance lower down the order with a gritty 19 from 36 deliveries before falling to Roach.
Greaves led the West Indies bowling attack with outstanding figures of 5/27 from 11 overs. Roach and Joseph claimed two wickets each, while Jayden Seales took one.
Pakistan had earlier made a strong start to the day, resuming their first innings at 199/3 with overnight batters Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha frustrating the home side’s bowlers.
The pair added a crucial 47 runs for the fourth wicket, during which Masood brought up his seventh Test century and his first since being replaced as Pakistan’s Test captain by Babar Azam.
Joseph eventually provided West Indies with the breakthrough in the 15th over of the day when a late-swinging delivery crashed into Agha’s off stump. The all-rounder scored a patient 20 from 60 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Greaves dealt Pakistan another major blow in the following over by bowling centurion Masood, who top-scored with 109 from 184 deliveries, an innings that included 12 fours.
The 32-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder then struck once in each of his next three overs, dismissing returning Aamir Jamal (3), debutant Ali Usman (0) and Mohammad Rizwan (12), reducing Pakistan to 259/8.