Kingston, Jamaica: Pakistan were 59 for two replying to the West Indies first innings total of 286 all out at lunch on the third day of the rain-affected first Test at Sabina Park here on Sunday.
West Indies had resumed at 278 for nine before Mohammad Amir wrapped up the innings by dismissing Shannon Gabriel.
Amir finished with career best figures of 6-44. Skipper Jason Holder was the not out batsman on 57.
Despite lasting just over 90 overs, it was an innings that stretched over three days owing to a combination of poor light, leaky covers on the pitch and intermittent showers.
Although an early start was scheduled for the third day in order to make up for the lost time, a wet outfield eventually meant play began an hour late at 10.30am. West Indies resumed with an eye on 300, with captain Jason Holder unbeaten on 55, but they only added eight runs to the total before Amir cleaned up Shannon Gabriel.
West Indies’ total was still a more competitive effort than had looked likely when they were reduced to 71 for 5 shortly after lunch on the first day. Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich showed resilience during a stand of 118, before Holder and Devendra Bishoo added a second revival during a brisk, counter-attacking 75-run partnership.
Amir claimed his fourth and fifth wickets with the second new ball in the play possible on Saturday; his first five-wicket haul in Tests since Lord’s 2010.
After struggling to find his best form since returning to Test cricket last year, he will truly hope to have relegated that episode to history once and for all.
Pakistan will look to make up for lost time in their first innings, but all eyes are on a batting statistic this time around. Younis Khan, who has said this will be his last series, is 23 runs away from becoming the first Pakistani to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.
Score Board
Pakistan won toss
West Indies 1st innings
K C Brathwaite c Younis b Abbas 0
K O A Powell c Younis b Amir 33
S O Hetmyer b Amir 11
S D Hope b Amir 2
V A Singh c Azhar b Wahab 9
R L Chase c Wahab b Yasir 63
†S O Dowrich b Yasir 56
*J O Holder not out 57
D Bishoo c Sarfraz b Amir 28
A S Joseph b Amir 0
S T Gabriel b Amir 5
Extras (b 4, lb 18) 22
Total (all out; 95 overs) 286
Fall: 1-1, 2-24, 3-32, 4-53, 5-71, 6-189, 7-189, 8-264, 9-274, 10-286
Bowling: Amir 26-11-44-6; Abbas 22-4-63-1; Wahab 23-6-66-1; Yasir 24-5-91-2
Pakistan 1st innings
Azhar Ali c Dowrich b Joseph 15
Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Holder 31
Babar Azam not out 12
Younis Khan not out 0
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (2 wickets; 20 overs) 59
To bat: *Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, †Sarfraz Ahmed, M Amir, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, M Abbas
Fall: 1-23, 2-54
Bowling: Gabriel 6-1-21-0; Joseph 7-2-21-1 (1nb); Holder 7-2-17-1
Test debuts: M Abbas (Pakistan); S O Hetmyer and V A Singh (West Indies)
Umpires: R K Illingworth (England) and R A Kettleborough (England). TV umpire: B N J Oxenford (Australia). Match referee: B C Broad (England)