Khan, Usman leave West Indies staring down barrel of defeat

Jomel Warrican continued his love affair with Pakistan’s batters, but the visitors’ spinning duo of Sajid Khan and Ali Usman grabbed six wickets in the final session to leave West Indies on the brink of defeat in the second and final Test, yesterday.

On a pitch offering significant assistance to the spinners, Khan and Usman bemused the Windies’ batters to leave them reeling on 103 for six at the end of day three at the Queen’s Park Oval – an overall lead of only 60 runs.

Those late strikes overshadowed an earlier impressive bowling spell by Warrican, that saw him record his second-best figures of 6-112 and claim his third five-wicket haul in Tests – all of them against Pakistan.

His efforts helped the home side fight their way back into the match after Pakistan, who resumed the day comfortably placed at 266 for two, were bowled out for 387 in reply to the Windies’ 344.

West Indies reaped success early on when Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who failed to add to his overnight score of 88, was run out by a direct throw from Brandon King at cover, following a mix up with Abdullah Shafique.

That proved to be a bittersweet moment for the Windies, as King was injured in the process and had to be stretchered off the field.

An update from Cricket West Indies (CWI) revealed that the opener was experiencing lower back spasms and he did not return to the field for the remainder of the day.

Warrican then bowled Awais Zafar and Mohammad Rizwan, while pacer Shamar Joseph trapped Salman Agha lbw for a duck to see Pakistan slip to 311 for six.

However, Shafique continued to defy the Windies’ bowlers and he reached 150 during a 59-run partnership with Khan that gave them the lead.

But once Jayden Seales had Khan caught behind for 30, Warrican cleaned up the tail by dismissing Usman, Ubaid Shah and Mohammad Ali in the space of four deliveries.

Shafique remained unbeaten on 160 off 323 balls and hit 15 fours and three sixes.

Faced with a slender deficit of 43 runs, West Indies made a positive start with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and makeshift opener Kavem Hodge all but erasing it during a stand of 40 runs for the first wicket.

However, the introduction of Khan in the 10th over changed the complexion of the match as he had Chanderpaul lbw with his second ball.

Amir Jangoo and Hodge ensured the Windies wiped away the deficit, but shortly after Khan struck again by bowling Jangoo for 13 with a delivery that straightened to leave them 62 for two.

Usman then got the key wicket of Hodge for 34. A voracious appeal for lbw was turned down by the umpire, but the review showed the ball crashing into the stumps to make it 74 for three.

Shai Hope was then undone by a delivery from Khan that kept low to be lbw for 15 and two runs later Khan also accounted for the wicket of nightwatchman Jayden Seales for a duck.

With the close of play in sight, Roston Chase drove a delivery straight back into the hands of Usman in what turned out to be the last ball of the day, with the Windies essentially 60 for six heading into the penultimate day of play.

Khan has so far taken 4-32, while Usman has grabbed 2-29.

Summarised Scores

WEST INDIES 344 & 103-6 in 40.5 overs (Kavem Hodge 34, Roston Chase 17, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 17, Shai Hope 15, Amir Jangoo 13; Sajid Khan 4-32, Ali Usman 2-29) vs PAKISTAN 387 in 115 overs (Abdullah Shafique 160 not out, Babar Azam 88, Azan Awais 55, Sajid Khan 30, Mohammad Rizwan 18, Imam-ul-Haq 14, Ali Usman 10; Jomel Warrican 6-112, Shamar Joseph 2-84).

Toss: West Indies elected to bat.

Position: West Indies lead Pakistan by

60 runs with four wickets remaining.

Umpires: Alex Wharf, Jayaraman Madanagopal.

TV Umpire: Richard Kettleborough.

Reserve Umpire: Zahid Bassarath.

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.

(CMC)