PORT OF SPAIN: Pakistan tightened their grip on the second and final Test against the West Indies after Sajid Khan’s superb four-wicket spell and Ali Usman’s disciplined bowling reduced the hosts to 103-6 at stumps on the third day at Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday.
Trailing by 43 runs after the first innings, the West Indies closed the day with a slender overall lead of 60 runs, but with only four wickets remaining.
Sajid starred with figures of 4-32 from 12 overs, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman claimed 2-29 to leave Pakistan firmly in command heading into the fourth day.
The hosts made a confident start to their second innings, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge adding 40 runs for the opening wicket before Sajid trapped Chanderpaul lbw for 17.
Amir Jangoo scored 13 before becoming Sajid’s second victim, while Hodge top-scored with 34 before falling leg-before to Usman.
Shai Hope contributed 15 before Sajid struck again, while nightwatchman Jayden Seales was dismissed lbw for a duck in the spinner’s next over. Usman then produced the final breakthrough of the day by dismissing captain Roston Chase for 17 with the last ball before stumps.
Earlier, Pakistan completed their first innings on 387, taking a valuable 43-run lead over the West Indies’ 344.
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Abdullah Shafique, returning to the Test side after a lengthy absence, carried his bat for a magnificent unbeaten 160 from 323 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and three sixes. His composed innings laid the foundation for Pakistan’s advantage despite a brief middle-order collapse.
Captain Babar Azam added 88 before being run out following a mix-up with Abdullah, ending a crucial partnership that had dominated the previous day.
Sajid also made a useful contribution with the bat, scoring 30, while Mohammad Rizwan added 18.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican finished with impressive figures of 6-112, while Shamar Joseph claimed two wickets.
With the West Indies holding a lead of just 60 runs and four wickets in hand, Pakistan will aim to wrap up the innings quickly on the fourth morning before chasing what appears likely to be a modest target to level the two-match series.
