-- Departing stalwarts Younis Khan, Misbah ul Haq fail to make an impact
Earlier, departing stalwarts Younis Khan and captain Misbah ul Haq failed to make an impact in their farewell international innings but Pakistan were poised to press for a series-clinching victory over the West Indies at stumps on the fourth day at Windsor Park in Dominica on Saturday. Following the tedium of the first three days which saw a total of 15 wickets falling, 14 tumbled on the penultimate day of the series, ending with the home side at seven for one after being set a daunting victory target of 304.
Set an improbable target of 304 and having already lost the wicket of Kieran Powell overnight, the home side suffered two further setbacks inside the first hour of the morning.
Kraigg Brathwaite's poor run of form continued when the opening batsman miscued an attempted cut off Yasir Shah for Hasan Ali to take the comfortable catch at backward-point. It was the leg-spinner's second wicket of the innings and 22nd of a three-match duel in which he has emerged as the tourists' outstanding individual performer.
Shimron Hetmyer's attacking nature presented scoring opportunities for the left-hander who stroked three boundaries and suggested at a substantial counter-attack.
However the introduction of his nemesis, Mohammad Amir, put paid to those expectations as he was comprehensively bowled for 25. It was the third time in the series that the left-armer had dismissed Hetmyer in that manner. Roston Chase, the first innings top-scorer, then joined Shai Hope with the pair defying all the challenges presented to them by the Pakistani attack, including Mohammad Abbas, the fast-medium bowler who had taken five wickets in the first innings.
But it was left to the debutant Hasan Ali to provide the breakthrough 20 minutes before the interval as a full-length inswinger trapped Hope leg-before for 19 and removed a significant obstacle in the visitors' quest for a first-ever Test series triumph in the Caribbean after seven previous failed campaigns.
Chase will resume in the afternoon session in partnership with Vishaul Singh, the left-hander who has so far failed to make any sort of impact in his debut series. This is also the final day in national colours for Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq and senior batsman Younis Khan.
SCOREBOARD Scoreboard at lunch on the fifth day of the third and final Test between the West Indies and Pakistan at Windsor Park in Dominica on Sunday:
Pakistan 1st Innings - 376
West Indies 1st Innings - 247
Pakistan 2nd Innings - 174 for 8 declared.
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West Indies 2nd Innings
(overnight 7 for 1)
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K. Brathwaite c Hasan Ali b Shah 6
K. Powell c Masood b Shah 4
S. Hetmyer b Amir 25
S. Hope lbw Hasan Ali 17
R. Chase not out 19
V. Singh not out 1
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Extras: (w-1) 1
Total: (4 wkts, 33 overs) 73
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Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Powell), 2-22 (Brathwaite), 3-47 (Hetmyer), 4-66 (Hope)
To bat: S. Dowrich, J. Holder, D. Bishoo, A. Joseph, S. Gabriel
Bowling: M. Amir 5-3-8-1 (1w), M. Abbas 10-6-12-0, Y. Shah 13-3-43-2, H. Ali 5-2-10-1
Toss: West Indies
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG), Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match Referee: Chris Broad (ENG).
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017