KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Pakistani stalwart Younis Khan struck yet another half-century in his illustrious career to join the 10 000-run club but was one of two wickets to fall in the last hour, as West Indies fought their back into the opening Test on the third day here yesterday.
The 39-year-old struck a solid 58 while Babar Azam top-scored with 72 and opener Ahmed Shezad, 31, as Pakistan ended the day at Sabina Park on 201 for four – 85 runs behind on first innings.
With Younis and Azam involved in a 131-run, third wicket stand, the visitors appeared to be taking a strong grip on the game but fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (2-37) struck twice in successive overs to remove both batsmen.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq, both unbeaten on five, then saw Pakistan safely to the close.
Earlier, West Indies were dismissed 286 after resuming from their overnight 278 for nine.
Captain Jason Holder, who started the day on 55, finished unbeaten on 59, an innings that required 75 deliveries and included seven fours and two sixes.
Left-arm seamer Mohammed Amir finished with career-best figures of six for 44 after claiming the final wicket, that of tail-ender Shannon Gabriel who missed an ambitious drive and was bowled for five, in the morning’s third over.
Azhar Ali then stroked two boundaries in a breezy 15 off 19 balls as Pakistan started well but he paid the price of his ambition when he slashed at wide, innocuous delivery from young fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and was caught behind in the sixth over at 23 for one.
Shezad looked in nice touch with five fours in a 50-ball knock, including two handsome off-side strokes off Gabriel in the third over of the innings.
But seamer Holder got the breakthrough in the third over before lunch when he brought one back to beat Shezad’s defensive stroke and claimed an obvious lbw decision at 54 for two.
Younis and Azam then denied West Indies a wicket in the post-lunch session, adding 66 to push Pakistan up to 125 without further loss at tea.
The closest West Indies came to a wicket was off the fourth ball after lunch when Azam drove a low full toss back to Jason Holder who stuck out his left hand but failed to hold on to the low, sharp chance.
Unbeaten on 22 at tea to move to 9 999 career runs, Younis became the first Pakistani to reach 10 000 runs in Tests when he swept the second ball after the break from off-spinner Roston Chase to the fine-leg boundary.
He is now the 13th player to reach the coveted landmark and has 10 035 runs in his 116th Test.
Not out on 47 at tea, Azam raised his third Test half-century in his seventh game in the same over from Chase when he cut to the ropes at backward point.
Younis began to score freely, coming down and lifting Chase to the ropes at long-off to raise the century partnership before also clearing the ropes back overhead with part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite.
He brought up his 33rd Test half-century with a single to square off Brathwaite but perished 25 minutes later when he drove Gabriel low to cover, in the second over of the bowler’s new spell.
Younis faced 138 balls and counted five fours and a six.
Gabriel struck again in his very next over when he got Azam to play on, with a century beckoning.
He faced 201 deliveries and hit eight fours and a six.
However, West Indies were then kept without success as Misbah and Shafiq kept their heads.
