West Indies v Pakistan, 3rd Test - 5 Game Changing Moments

The third and final Test between West Indies and Pakistan had a lot of hype around it. This was much due to the fact that two of the legends of the game, Younis Khan, and Misbah-ul-Haq were playing their final Test in their respective illustrious careers. As the things turned out to be in the match, the players did a fantastic job to keep the audiences interested.

It was a Test that saw fortunes sway from one side to the other. Being the series decider, it was a fitting game that saw the visitors notch up a clinical 2-1 win over the hosts. The legends of the Pakistan game managed to get the ideal farewell. While Younis Khan was amongst the runs in the game, Misbah led the show with his captaincy skills. He became the first Pakistan skipper to win a Test series in West Indies.

After having seen a washed out affair on the first day with only 69 overs being bowled, Pakistan managed to put on a big first innings score in the match. That put them in the commanding position. Soon, a decent bowling effort from the visitors helped them get an edge in the first innings. West Indies did well to crawl back into the game as a batting collapse was on the cards. Later, Roston Chase almost saved the game for West Indies with a ton but ended up being stranded as Pakistan won the series by 2-1.

Here are the 5 Game Changing Moments from the match:

1. Azhar Ali’s two faced ton

In the first innings, the eyes were on the retiring stalwarts. But the real impetus to the Pakistan innings was given by the opener Azhar Ali. Ali, who has been a consistent run-getter for his team in the recent past, notched up a brilliant ton to help the visitors post 376/10 in the first innings. Azhar Ali scored 127 in his innings. However, the knock came under the scanner for the sluggish nature. His 127 came off 334 balls with a strike rate of as low as 38.02. But, one cannot take the credit away from him for playing a superlative knock nonetheless.

2. Mohammad Abbas bowls a brilliant spell

West Indies resumed the day 3 with 218 on the board and have the side back in the hut. They expected to nose ahead of the first innings total with Roston Chase at the crease. But, it was a defining spell from young pacer Mohammad Abbas that helped the visitors strike back. Windies bundled out for a mere 247 in their innings. It was Abbas who ran through the middle-order with a five-wicket haul to his name. He returned with figures of 5/46 in the 25 overs that he bowled. He had 7 maidens to his name as well.

3. Pakistan’s second innings collapse

The Pakistani team had managed to get decent first innings lead. All they needed to do was to capitalize on the lead with a good show in the second innings. However, the demons of the second Test came back haunting the visitors. A batting collapse was on the cards as only two batsmen from the opposition crossed the 30-run mark. At one stage, they were staring at embarrassment with 90/7 in their credit. They eventually declared on 174/8 in the second innings.

4. Roston Chase’s resistance

The West Indies seemed to crumbling in the second innings. They were nowhere heading close to the target. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals and hence it was only a matter of time that the Pakistani bowlers wrapped things up in the match. However, it was the same old Crisis Man of the West Indies lineup that showed grit and resistance in the match. Roston Chase scored a brilliant unbeaten 101 on the final day. He was only unlucky to have not been able to ensure a draw in the closely fought game.

5. Yasir Shah finishes off in style

In the recent times, Yasir Shah has been the most successful bowler for the Pakistan team. He has been amongst the wickets in almost every fixture. The wily leg-spinner managed to take yet another five wicket haul in the game. He did not let the opposition batsmen settle at the crease and hence Yasir was the key in taking wickets regularly. Yasir finished with figures of 5/92 in the innings. He was awarded the Player of the Series for his efforts.