Sensational Shaheen gives Pakistan upper hand in Jamaica
JAMAICA – A career-best bowling performance by Shaheen Shah Afridi put Pakistan in the position of winning the second Jamaica Test and drawing the two-match ICC World Test Championship series against West Indies on day-four at the Sabina Park, Kingston.
Shaheen took six wickets for 51 runs as Pakistan blew away the West Indies in their first innings to earn a healthy 152-run lead. The left-armer was ably supported by seamer Mohammad Abbas who took three wickets for 44 as the hosts were sent packing cheaply after resuming at 39 for three.
Pakistan then scored at a rapid rate in their second innings posting 176 for six (declared) at an impressive run-rate of 6.43 in 27.2 overs to set West Indies a 329-run target.
The hosts finished the day at 49 for one setting-up an intriguing fifth and final day with all three results possible, they need 280 runs to win while Pakistan would be searching for nine wickets to earn a well-deserved victory.
Day-four belonged to Shaheen who after removing the West Indies openers in the final session of day-three, dismissed night watchman Alzarri Joseph in his first spell of the day to leave the hosts tottering at 45 for four.
Nkrumah Bonner (37) and Jermaine Blackwood (33) added 60 runs for the fifth-wicket before Blackwood became Shaheen’s fourth-wicket of the innings.
Abbas then dismissed Bonner and Kyle Mayers (0) off successive delivers before adding Joshua Da Silva’s wicket on the eve of the lunch break to leave the West Indies 116 for eight.
Jason Holder (26) became Shaheen’s fifth victim, earning the 21-year-old left-armer his third Test five-wicket haul shortly after lunch. Shaheen added Kemar Roach (8) to his wicket’s tally as West Indies were folded for 150 in 51.3 overs.
In their second innings, Imran Butt (37) and Abid Ali (29) provided Pakistan a brisk 70-run stand for the first-wicket in a mere 9.3 overs. Babar Azam contributed 33, Azhar Ali scored 22 and Hasan Ali contributed a quickfire 17 off 11 balls to help the visitors accumulate a 328-runs lead before asking West Indies to bat again.
West Indies lost opener Kieran Pollard (23) via a run out as they ended the day at 49 for one in 19 overs.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 302-9d, 110 overs (Fawad Alam 124 not out, Babar Azam 75, Mohammad Rizwan 31, Faheem Ashraf 26; Jayden Seales 3-31, Kemar Roach 3-68, Jason Holder 2-46) and 176-6d, 27.2 overs (Imran Butt 37, Babar Azam 33; Alzarri Joseph 2-24, Jason Holder 2-27)
West Indies 150 all out, 51.3 overs (Nkrumah Bonner 37, Jermaine Blackwood 33; Shaheen Shah Afridi 6-51, Mohammad Abbas 3-44) and 49-1, 19 overs (Kieran Powell 23)
