DUBAI: West Indies, replying to Pakistan’s 579-3 declared, were 315-6 at the close of play on the third day of the first day-night Test in Dubai on Saturday.
Shane Dowrich (27) and Jason Holder (10) were at the crease at stumps with the West Indies still trailing Pakistan’s first innings total by 264 runs.
West Indies still need 65 to avoid the follow-on. Darren Bravo scored 87 and Marlon Samuels made 76.
READ MORE: Azhar Ali scores triple century for Pakistan in historic Test
Pakistan, who removed overnight batsman Kraig Brathwaite in the second over of the day, were left frustrated by a 118-run stand for the third wicket between Samuels and Bravo.
Bravo has kept the fight with his 16th half-century, completed with a fluent boundary off leg-spinner Yasir Shah. He has so far hit six boundaraies and a six.
Shah has threatened to take wickets, having so far taken 2-71 in his 26 overs.
The Dubai stadium pitch has not taken much turn which Pakistan could have exploited as Bravo and Samuels were steady in the two-hour session.
Samuels hit two boundaries off the first two balls he faced, driving powerfully to leg-spinner Shah and settling down quickly on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.
He took a single off spinner Mohammad Nawaz to reach his 24th Test fifty and continued in an aggressive style with 13 boundaries.
Samuels looked set for his first hundred since April last year but fell leg-before to paceman Sohail Khan as he missed an incoming delivery and was caught right infornt.
Samuels cracked 13 boundaries in his 139-ball stay.
Pakistan had looked for quick wickets after West Indies resumed at 69-1 and were rewarded with one when Shah bowled Brathwaite for 32 with a delivery which turned slightly and beat the bat.
Pakistan’s big total was built around opener Azhar Ali’s unbeaten 302 which is the fourth triple century for his country.
The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).
Scoreboard
Pakistan, first innings 579-3 declared (Azhar Ali 302 not out, Sami Aslam 90, Babar Azam 69, Asad Shafiq 67)
West Indies 1st innings (overnight 69-1)
K. Brathwaite lbw b Shah 32
L. Johnson lbw b Shah 15
D. Bravo c Ali b Nawaz 87
M. Samuels lbw b Sohail 76
J. Blackwood c Ahmed b Riaz 37
R. Chase c Azam b Riaz 6
S. Dowrich not out 27
J. Holder not out 10
Extras: (b9, lb8, nb7, w1) 25
Total: (for six wkts; 109 overs) 315
Did not bat: D. Bishoo, M. Cummins, S. Gabriel
Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Johnson), 2-69 (Brathwaite), 3-182 (Samuels), 4-259 (Blackwood), 5-266 (Chase), 6-300 (Bravo)
Bowling: Amir 19-4-48-0 (1nb), Sohail 16-2-56-1, Shah 36-14-97-2, Riaz 19.3-3-53-2 (5nb, 1w), Nawaz 16-5-38-1 (1nb), Ali 2.3-1-6-0
Toss: Pakistan
