The first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan is tantalisingly close after a rain-affected Day 3. The day saw 72 overs of well-contested cricket, during which neither team could establish dominance. At stumps, Pakistan are 160/5: they are 124 ahead in the second innings.
Pakistani took less than three overs on Day 3 to round up the West Indies first innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled fast and straight to pick up both wickets: he bowled Jomel Warrican and trapped Joshua Da Silva leg before. West Indies got 253, which gave them a lead of 36. With 4-59, Afridi finished as Pakistan’s most successful bowler.
Pakistan did not have a good start in response, as Imran Butt scored a 11-ball duck. Abid Ali and Azhar Ali both got starts, and added 55 for the second wicket, before Kemar Roach dismissed Azhar for 23 to claim his second wicket. Jayden Seales then picked up Abid and Fawad Alam in the same over, and Pakistan slumped to 65/4.
Babar Azam took control at this stage, adding a patient 56 with Mohammad Rizwan. Following a burst of rain, Jason Holder had Rizwan caught behind for 30.
Babar and Faheem Ashraf batted sensibly for last 24 overs of the day, pushing Pakistan’s lead to 124. Babar remained unbeaten on 54, his 17th Test fifty, while Faheem scored a patient 12 off 79 balls.
West Indies will look for early wickets on Day 4. Ideally, they would settle for a target between 170 to 200 against Yasir Shah on a Day 5 pitch.
For Pakistan, Babar holds the key, and they would hope for him to bat long. The support he gets from Faheem and other bowlers will be key to Pakistan’s success in this match. While bowling in the fourth innings, the main target of the Pakistani bowlers will be to keep providing wickets at regular intervals.
Betway fantasy picks:
– Babar has already scored 54 in this innings and is looking good for more.
– Batting is West Indies’ weakness. Back captain Kraigg Brathwaite to take charge.
– Mohammad Abbas bowled beautifully in the first innings to provide early breakthroughs. If Pakistan have to win, they will expect another great spell from Abbas.