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It’s back to red ball cricket in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan will be looking to assert their dominance and wrap up their series against the West Indies with a match to play. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 1 from 5pm (AEDT).
Pakistan left it late in the first Test in Dubai – just 12 overs were remaining when they wrapped the match up under lights – but there are no questions the hosts were the better side and deserved their win.
Using the pink ball in the second ever day-night Test match, Pakistan made a mountain of runs in the first innings on the back of a triple century to Azhar Ali.
They then decided not to enforce the follow-on which, given there wasn’t that much time left in the match, came as a little bit of a surprise. The decision of skipper Misbah-ul-Haq wasn’t vindicated either, as Pakistan were rolled for 123.
Leg spinner Devendra Bishoo took eight wickets for the tourists – the second-best haul ever by a West Indian spinner – after being put to all parts of the ground during the first innings, and suddenly the West Indies were left with a tough yet achievable chase of 345.
Darren Bravo led the cause scoring 116, but received little support with Leon Johnson (47), Jason Holder (40) and Roston Chase (35) the only other players to get past 20.
Towards the end of the match, the Windies were quite clearly trying to hang on for the draw, with Holder, Bravo and the tail scoring just 26 runs from the final 14 overs.
Yasir Shah, while bowling tightly, again struggled to take wickets and cause the West Indies any real grief and, along with the Pakistan top order, he seems to hold the key to the second Test.
Of course, if Bishoo can once again bowl like he has the ball on a string, none of that will matter.
Prediction
Pakistan collapsed in the second innings of the first Test, but given their form against England and the first innings against the West Indies, it has to be looked at as an exception rather than the rule.
For that reason, it’s tough to tip the tourists.
Pakistan normally play their best cricket in the UAE or on the sub-continent and, while the West Indies could be slowly turning things around, they will drop another game – their eighth on tour – and the series will be over in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of Day 1 in the second Test from 5pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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