Pakistan overcome Bravo fight to win first Test

DUBAI: Pakistan overcame a spirited fight by Darren Bravo and Jason Holder to win their first Test against West Indies at Dubai International Stadium on the fifth and final day on Monday.

A draw had seemed likely before Darren got out, caught and bowled by Yasir Shah, after scoring 116 off 249 balls. He struck 10 fours and a four in his gritty knock.

Darren and captain Jason Holder, who remained not out on 40 off 127 balls, frustrated all efforts of Misbah & Co for 30 overs.

After Darren’s departure, Holder kept blocking to secure a draw, but Mohammad Nawaz trapped Davendra Bishoo lbw and then two run-outs ended West Indies’ resistance, giving Pakistan a victory which had looked easily achievable throughout the first four and a half days.

The left-handed Darren struck his eighth hundred — fifth in Asia and seven away from home — as West Indies managed 232-6 by dinner.

Pakistan had taken the second new ball with West Indies 224-6 and Darren needing four for a hundred. Darren smashed an uppish drive off paceman Mohammad Amir’s first ball to backward point boundary to complete his magnificent hundred after 329-minutes of defiance.

Bravo put up his best resistance during a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket with Roston Chase (35).

Chase, famous for his 137 not out at Jamaica which helped West Indies draw a Test against India in July this year, gave full support to Bravo as the duo frustrated Pakistan.

Pakistan’s hopes rested on leg-spinner Yasir Shah who was not at his best despite good turn on offer. He finally got his first wicket when he bowled Chase from across his feet.

Paceman Wahab Riaz then dismissed Shane Dowrich for nought to leave West Indies at 194-6.

West Indies had resumed at 95-2 and were instantly in trouble when Amir had Marlon Samuels caught behind for four with the first ball of the day.

Jermaine Blackwood (15) helped Darren take the total to 116 when left-arm spinner Nawaz trapped him leg-before, a decision Pakistan only got on referral.

Pakistan did not get what was expected from Shah in the first session as he bowled faster rather than giving flight to the ball.

Amir took three for 63. Yasir and Nawaz got two each. Wahab got one for 47.

Vice captain Azhar Ali, who scored 302 not out in the first innings, was declared man of the match.

The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).

Score Board

Pakistan won toss

Pakistan 1st innings 579 dec (Azhar Ali 302, Sami Aslam 90; D Bishoo 2-125)

West Indies 1st innings 357 all-out (D Bravo 87, M Samuels 76; Yasir 5-121)

Pakistan 2nd innings 123 all-out (Sami Aslam 44; D Bishoo 8-49)

West Indies 2nd innings

K C Brathwaite b Amir         6

L R Johnson lbw b Amir       47

D M Bravo c & b Yasir         116

M N Samuels c Sarfraz b Amir       4

J Blackwood lbw b Nawaz    15

R L Chase b Yasir      35

†S O Dowrich b Wahab        0

*J O Holder not out   40

D Bishoo lbw b Nawaz         3

M L Cummins run out 1

S T Gabriel run out    1

Extras (b 5, lb 7, w 5, nb 4) 21

Total (10 wickets; 109 overs)         289

Fall: 1-27, 2-87, 3-95, 4-116, 5-193, 6-194, 7-263, 8-276, 9-277, 10-289

Bowling: Amir 23-5-63-3 (1w); Sohail 10-1-22-0; Yasir 41-6-113-2 Nawaz (3) 18-4-32-2; Wahab 17-1-47-1 (4nb)

Test debuts: Babar Azam and M Nawaz (Pakistan)

Result: Pakistan won by 56 runs

Series: Pakistan lead the 3-match series by 1-0

Man of the Match: Azhar Ali (Pakistan)

Umpires: R K Illingworth (England) and P R Reiffel (Australia). TV umpire: M A Gough (England). Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)