Sharjah: Sami Aslam was only five years old when Younis Khan made his Test debut in 2000 and just six when his skipper Misbah-Ul Haq made his debut a year later. Watching Younis and Misbah, whom he addresses as bhai (brother), Aslam built his innings when Pakistan were struggling at two wickets down for one run. He went on to hit 74 runs off 172 balls with seven boundaries and a six.
Younis showed the way first by cracking 51 off 100 balls, as they put on 106 runs in 36.3 overs for the third wicket on day one of their first third and final Test against the West Indies. Aslam then added another 43 runs in 17.4 overs with his skipper Misbah who went on to hit 53.
Misbah also added another 80 runs in 17.2 overs with Sarfraz Ahmad, who also cracked 51. Though Pakistan had repeatedly scored over 400 runs in their first two Test matches, the fact that West Indies has managed to restrict Pakistan to 255 for eight by close on the first day is a big boost for a team whose morale is at its lowest. Devendra Bishoo, with four wickets for 74 runs and paceman Shannon Gabriel, with three wickets for 58, put the brakes on Pakistan.
The day began with Misbah winning a hat-trick with his toss. For West Indies skipper Jason Holder everything have been going wrong and hence losing the toss for the third time in this Test series may not have surprised him too. Misbah, captaining the team for the 49th time in a Test match, decided to bat first as Sharjah wicket has a reputation of getting slower and assist spin as match progress.
Gabriel who has often been compared to former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop and can generate bounce and pace off the wicket, dismissed Azhar Ali for a duck with the second ball of the match. That delivery had pace and bounce and Ali who went back hung his bat failing to judge the late movement. Ali’s edge from the shoulder of his bat flew to Kraigg Brathwaite at second slip. It was the third time Gabriel has taken Ali’s wicket in this series.
Gabriel struck again with the fourth ball dismissing Asad Shafiq, who had during a pre Test match interview talked about cementing his place as the No. 3 batsmen for a duck. This delivery nipped back to hit Shafiq’s bat and umpire Paul Reiffel even turned down the appeal. The review went against him.
In walked Younis, who is ranked second among the best Test batsmen in the world, to the cheers of hundreds of schoolchildren who were permitted free by the organisers. Younis displayed the art of building an innings to them. After playing 19 balls to score just four runs, he cracked his first boundary off a poor delivery from Gabriel which was overpitched and on the leg and middle. Two overs later, Aslam, who was growing in confidence, played a shot opening the face of his bat. The placing and timing of that shot was immaculate.
Younis on 30 escaped being caught off a Roston Chase delivery when Leon Johnson failed to hold on to the tough chance at midwicket. Though Johnson stretched full length to his left, he could not hold on to the flick. Two balls later, Younis going for a sweep missed it and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich stumped him without gathering the ball. By lunch the pair steered Pakistan to 81 for 2.
Sami was the first to reach his half century in 111 balls. The pair recorded their 100 runs partnership in 33.3 overs. Younis reached his half century in style by hitting Chase for a six over midwicket in 97 balls.
Chase got his reward in the 38th over when Younis slog swept him to Johnson at midwicket.
Misbah provided good support to Aslam after surviving a close leg before review when his score was six. West Indies players were surprised at how Gabriel’s delivery, which hit the pads went in batsman’s favour, and by tea Pakistan reached an impressive 148 for 3.
Fifth ball after tea, Aslam reverse-swept Bishoo to Holder and once again missed his maiden century. Misbah with Sarfraz Ahmad controlled the session after tea, but West Indies kept picking wickets at regular intervals.
