Pakistan tightened their grip on the Test after Abdullah Shafique’s superb 150 and a devastating late bowling burst left West Indies under severe pressure.
The hosts closed the day only 60 runs ahead after losing six wickets during a dramatic final session on a surface offering increasing assistance to spin. Earlier, West Indies had erased Pakistan’s 43 run first innings advantage through a steady opening stand, but the contest shifted sharply once Sajid Khan and Ali Usman entered the attack.
Sajid trapped Tagenarine Chanderpaul after catching him deep inside the crease, before producing a sharply turning delivery to bowl Amir Jangoo. Usman then removed Kavem Hodge with an arm ball that beat his attempted flick.
Shai Hope and Roston Chase briefly resisted, but Sajid struck again by dismissing Hope and nightwatcher Jayden Seales in quick succession. The final blow came from the last delivery of the day when Chase chipped a return catch to Usman, completing Pakistan’s dominant finish.
West Indies had enjoyed the better start to proceedings. Babar Azam added only two runs from 21 balls before being run out by Brandon King, who injured his back while completing the direct hit. Debutant Awais Zafar was bowled by Jomel Warrican, while Shamar Joseph trapped Salman Agha to leave Pakistan losing three wickets for five runs.
Mohammad Rizwan provided temporary support to Shafique before Warrican bowled him with a delivery that stayed low. Sajid then offered valuable lower order resistance as Shafique reached 150 with a commanding six.
Warrican eventually dismissed Sajid and quickly removed Usman, Ubaid Shah and Mohammad Ali to finish with six wickets. Although his spell limited Pakistan’s advantage, the visitors’ spinners transformed the match before stumps.
With the pitch becoming harder to bat on, West Indies now face a demanding task to build a defendable target.
