Tea West Indies 163 and 244 (Brathwaite 52, Sajid 4-76, Noman 4-80) lead Pakistan 154 by 253 runs
But Mikyle Louis, Brathwaite’s opening partner, was neither as positive nor looked as comfortable. That was how Pakistan got back into the game: they drew Louis into a prod towards the off side, and Shan Masood took a straight forward catch at short extra cover.
But Pakistan’s spinners were bringing them back into the game. Brathwaite survived two raised fingers off consecutive deliveries with successful reviews, but fell the next over when he tried to charge Noman and ended up getting beaten by extra turn. It was a manner of dismissal almost identical to the one that would snare Kavem Hodge in the minutes before lunch.
In the meantime, Sajid, too, was getting into the game. He had dismissed Jangoo shortly after Brathwaite went walkabout, forcing the issue with a sweep when he appeared to have misjudged the flight and the pitch of the delivery. It ended up taking a feather off the bottom of the bat to slip, and West Indies were left with two new batters at the crease.
The final over before lunch saw Pakistan strike a fifth time. Noman landed the ball in the footmarks and ripped it back into the pads of Alick Athanaze. An enthused appeal, needed partially because Pakistan have burnt all three reviews, was successful.
Pakistan continued making inroads when a miscued reverse sweep from Justin Greaves found backward point. But as the visitors have done all series, their lower order dug in. Imlach and Sinclair did not take too many risks as they worked to build up a conventional Test partnership, and the runs appeared to follow. The duo batted for nearly 14 overs as Pakistan rotated through their bowlers, and the quest for a wicket became increasingly desperate.
The breakthrough came in unlikely fashion when Sinclair somehow played all around a Sajid delivery from around the wicket, throwing his head to the skies in frustration. Imlach succumbed shortly after to fast bowler Kashif Ali, who was naggingly accurate on the brief occasion he was called upon.
Yet again, however, the bottom two partnerships found ways of contributing. Gudakesh Motie combined with Jomel Warrican to add a further 27, before Kemar Roach, injured taking a splendid catch on Saturday, limped out to add a few more crucial runs. He got his side past 250 before Sajid finally wrapped the innings up. But the first two-thirds of the day have gone entirely to plan for West Indies.
