A record-breaking first two days has Pakistan in a dominant position ahead of the West Indies. Join The Roar for live scores from Day 3 of the Test, starting from 10:30pm (AEDT).
Azhar Ali put up what will surely prove to be a match-winning knock over the course of the first two days of the Test at Dubai.
Ali faced 469 balls across 658 minutes at the crease, eventually finishing with 302 runs to his name.
Pakistan declared while he was still at the crease alongside Misbah-ul-Haq, with Pakistan finishing on a total of 3/579 declared.
Devendra Bishoo had two wickets for the West Indies and Roston Chase the other, but the inability of the bowling attack to take down the vital wicket of Ali cost them any chance of being competitive.
The West Indies then took to the field and faced 22 overs before stumps on the second day.
Leon Johnson’s wicket fell after he had recorded just 15 runs, but Karlos Brathwaite (32) and Darren Bravo (14) remain at the crease coming into the third day.
The West Indies have put up 69 runs so far, leaving them 510 behind Pakistan’s total.
The goal for Pakistan will now be to bowl the West Indies out and likely force them in for a follow-on with hopes of winning the Test as quickly as possible.
The West Indies surely can’t win the match here, but can hope for a draw if they bat defensively and drag out their time at the crease for as long as possible.
If they can build a big enough total in this first innings to avoid a follow-on and put Pakistan back in to bat again, that would help a lot.
Join The Roar for live scores from Day 3 of the Test, starting from 10:30pm (AEDT).