Windies’ batting meltdown gives Pakistan upper hand

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
Another West Indies batting collapse has left them fighting to avoid defeat against Pakistan in the historic first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
In a topsy turvy third day’s play, the West Indies seized control initially thanks to a memorable, maiden five-wicket haul from pacer Justin Greaves that saw the visitors crumble from their commanding overnight position of 199 for three to 282 all out in 80.1 overs.
Armed with a handy 29-run lead, the Windies’ batters failed to navigate the probing line of Pakistan’s pacers, limping to 126 for seven at the close of play – a lead of only 155 runs heading into  today’s fourth day.
It was a complete turnaround following the earlier heroics of Greaves, who created history with a sensational spell that saw him become the first player to bowl five consecutive wicket maidens in a Test match.
Pakistan looked to be cruising when Shan Masood, who resumed the day on 88, and Salman Agha were at the crease during a 47-run partnership that carried them to 244 for three.
During that stand, Masood too created history by becoming the first player to score a Test century at the venue and his seventh overall. He reached the landmark off 163 balls by slicing a delivery from Shamar Joseph to cover for a single.
Joseph got the ball rolling for the Windies by sending Agha’s off stump cartwheeling and in the next over, without a run added, Greaves brought Masood’s innings to an end by bowling him off the inside edge for 109 off 184 balls.
 Greaves continued his demolition job by picking up the wickets of Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas in consecutive overs to send Pakistan plummeting to 267 for nine, before Kemar Roach wrapped up the innings by having Khurram Shahzad caught behind.
Greaves ended with the outstanding figures of 5-27 from his 11 overs, while Roach (2-53) and Joseph (2-58) provided good support.
However, the West Indies’ batters struggled mightily against Pakistan’s medium pacers to all but relinquish their small advantage.
Brandon King was lucky to pick up a boundary when he edged Shahzad in the air between gully and backward square, but his luck ran out next over when he edged Abbas behind for wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan to take a good low catch.
Three balls later, Abbas struck again by also having Kavem Hodge caught behind for a duck to leave the home side seven for two.
Mohammad Ali then produced an athletic effort to hold on to a return catch that dismissed Amir Jangoo for four, as the West Indies limped to tea on 30 for three.
It didn’t take long for Pakistan to strike once play resumed, with Shahzad bowling Shai Hope after he completely missed his heave over long on to make the score 43 for four.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Greaves tried to repair the damage during a partnership of 37 for the fifth wicket, but just as things were looking promising, Chanderpaul needlessly tried to pull a short ball outside off stump into the on side and was caught at square leg for 35.
Greaves was then spectacularly caught by a diving Babar Azam at cover for 20 off the bowling of Abbas and Shahzad had skipper Roston Chase caught behind for eight shortly after to leave the Windies perilously placed at 93 for seven.
However, just as he did in the first innings, Shamar Joseph gave his side some much-needed runs in an unbeaten knock of 22 off 13 balls that has included three sixes.
Together with Roach, they put on 33 valuable runs for the eighth wicket to stretch the lead past the 150-mark and ensure there were no further losses.
Abbas has so far claimed 3-14 and Shahzad 2-36.