Bravo, Samuel fight, but Pakistan pull ahead
Having started the third day at 69 for 1, West Indies finished at 315 for 6. Bravo showed vast reserves of patience, Samuels was more adventurous, but they still trail by 264 runs.
Wahab’s short-ball barrage was the story of the last session; he took down Blackwood and Chase in two overs. Bravo’s fight then ended in the final half hour of play when he prodded debutant Nawaz to Azhar at forward short leg.
Having enjoyed the first two days of their 400th Test by piling on runs on another Dubai featherbed, Pakistan were made to toil for their gains on the third day. After removing Kraigg Brathwaite before a run was added to the overnight total, Pakistan came across staunch resistance from Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo in a 113-run stand that injected some much-needed fight into West Indies’ performance.
Samuels made the most of a placid wicket to play some attractive shots en route to a brisk 76 that helped West Indies chip away at Pakistan’s massive first-innings total. Having announced his arrival at the crease with consecutive fours off leg-spinner Yasir Shah, he continued to pepper the off-side boundary with excellent cuts and drives. Samuels hit 13 fours.
A general lack of foot movement got Samuels into occasional trouble and ultimately led to his downfall. Shortly after tea, he played a loose drive against Wahab, throwing his hands at the ball, and was lucky that the edge did not carry to the wicketkeeper. Eight overs later, Sohail Khan bowled an indipper that wrapped Samuels on the pads in front of middle; Samuels was rooted in the crease and was falling over. He rightly resisted the temptation to review.
That still left Bravo, who had provided a fine counterpoint to Samuels with his stodgy, resolute defence. Bravo brought up his fifty of 176 balls and seemed content to proceed at that stately pace irrespective of events around him. He wore down the bowlers with an approach that was solid and patient, if also dour.
Pakistan might have anticipated an easier day when Yasir dismissed Brathwaite in the second over of the day. Thereafter, Samuels and Bravo frustrated the bowlers with their third-wicket stand. Pakistan’s concerns were exacerbated when Nawaz was warned twice for following through in the danger area shortly after tea. They grew further in the next over when Samuels drilled the ball back at Azhar Ali, who took a blow to his right hand and had to go off for treatment.
