Misbah makes 99 again, Pakistan in strong position against Windies

Roston Chase joked that his superhero alter-ego was “Crisis Man” after the all-rounder dug West Indies out of a jam in the second Test against Pakistan on day one.

Opener Azhar Ali was undefeated on 81 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq 7 not out with Pakistan scoring slowly all day, including 66 runs off 30 overs in the final session at Kensington Oval.

Those eventful sessions after lunch were in direct opposition to the tedium of the morning, where 54 runs came from 26 overs as Ali and Misbah batted with nearly exaggerated care on a pitch showing increasing signs of wear and offering disconcertingly variable bounce. Although there were no wicket-taking chances squandered because of overstepping in that innings, West Indies still ended up conceding 27 runs in extras in Pakistan’s total of 407. After they secured a lead of 81 in response to West Indies’ 312 on a deteriorating pitch, fast bowler Mohammad Abbas struck with the new ball to have Kieran Powell edging behind.

On a surface offering very little assistance to the faster bowlers, the Caribbean team still managed to slip to 154 for six in mid-afternoon and at that stage it looked as if the tourists would have been well into their reply by the end of the day. This fifty is also his fifth fifty against West Indies.

Abbas was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Mohammad Amir snapped up three, Yasir took two and debutant Shadab Khan chipped in with one.

Abbas finished with fine figures of 4-56, while Amir claimed 3-65.

The 50-run stand between the duo came off 184 deliveries and Pakistan went into lunch at 226 for three, managing to add just 54 runs in the session.

Shehzad had earlier in the day made the most of his good fortune to reach 70 when he was dismissed by Bishoo, caught at slip, after which veteran Younis Khan was caught for a duck at mid-wicket by Gabriel, pulling a long hop.

Misbah had the dubious honour of becoming the first player from his country to finish on 99 not out during their first innings of last week’s seven-wicket first test victory in Jamaica.