First Test, Tarouba (Day Three of Five)
West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)
Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves produced a sensational spell of bowling on day three, claiming his maiden Test five-wicket haul without conceding a run to dismantle Pakistan’s first innings at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
The 32-year-old Barbadian, playing in his 17th Test, finished with figures of 5-27 as Pakistan collapsed from 244-3 to 282 all out, conceding a 29-run first-innings deficit. The damage was done in a remarkable sequence of five consecutive wicket-maidens, a stunning turnaround after Greaves had bowled six wicketless overs earlier in the session for 27 runs.
“When I came on, captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said. “The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them and try to dig us out of situations. To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”
The breakthrough arrived in the 64th over when Pakistan captain Shan Masood, well set on 109, was bowled playing down the wrong line to a delivery that tailed back sharply from wide of the crease. Aamer Jamal followed next over, his middle stump uprooted by a searing inswinger.
Greaves then trapped Ali Usman leg before wicket before inducing edges from Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas to the wicketkeeper as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
In reply, West Indies reached stumps on 126-7 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 155 runs to leave the contest finely poised heading into day four.