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West Indies 251 for 8 (Brathwaite 97, Holder 58, Abbas 3-42) lead Pakistan 217 (Fawad 56, Holder 3-26, Seales 3-70) by 215 runs
Jamaica: Kraigg Brathwaite was run out just three runs short of his tenth Test century on a bittersweet day for the West Indies captain.
Brathwaite’s patient vigil in the middle came to an abrupt end at Sabina Park when he pushed for a second run and came off distinctly second best to the arm of Hasan Ali.
Ali’s direct hit as he swept in from fine leg left the West Indies skipper well short of his ground, sending him back to the hutch for 97 off 221 deliveries.
Brathwaite may have fallen short of his individual milestone, but the opening batter’s knock anchored the West Indies innings as they overhauled Pakistan’s 217 to close day two on 251/8 with a lead of 34.
The West Indies had resumed on 2/2 after Mohammad Abbas’ two in two balls at the close of day one.
Brathwaite and Roston Chase made it through the opening hour comfortably, with the home side visibly intent on building a platform through a patient approach. But that circumspect partnership came to an uncharacteristic end when Chase flashed at a wide one to edge behind and fall for 21 off 51 balls.
With Brathwaite remaining solid at the other end, Jermaine Blackwood (22 off 54) picked up where Chase had left off, only for his own rush of blood to the head resulting in a swiped drive that looped straight into the hands of Abbas at mid on.
And for the second time in the innings, two West Indian wickets fell in consecutive balls. On this occasion it was Shaheen Shah Afridi who found himself on a hat-trick when he trapped Kyle Mayers plumb in front for a first baller.
But Jason Holder watched the hat-trick delivery slide through to the keeper, and that was all she wrote for Pakistan until midway through the evening session.
The former West Indies captain teamed up with his successor to build a 96-run partnership that dragged the home side into a favourable position in the Test.
A feather of an edge off Faheem Ashraf saw Holder fall for 58, but the all-rounder had already done his job, rescuing his team from a perilous position on 100/5 and putting them on the verge of a first-innings lead.
Brathwaite’s disappointment was both understandable and visible as he sat shell-shocked on the floor when run out for 97.
But the West Indies tail continued to wag before bad light brought an early end to proceedings, with the home side closing on 251/8.
And play will resume on Saturday morning with Joshua Da Silva (20*) and Jomel Warrican (1*) hoping to increase West Indies’ advantage beyond the overnight lead of 34.
