Pakistan survive 14-wicket slugfest to keep narrow advantage

A wild day for wickets 14 wickets fell on the day, making it a constant back-and-forth. Batters struggled and bowlers dominated on both sides. Pakistan lost their marginal advantage during the day as wickets tumbled. But they fought back late to regain that slim lead, so they’re still just ahead going into the next day. It was a see-saw day. Neither team could build big partnerships. Pakistan gave up control, then clawed it back — but the game is still very much in the balance with such a small advantage. Pakistan started, with Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha at the crease, marginally ahead of the hosts, having lost just three wickets and within little over 100 away from West Indies' first-innings total. They end marginally ahead still, with Mohammad Abbas tormenting the hosts, who finish seven down, their lead a vulnerable 155. West Indies' batters had been gifted an unlikely bonus when they padded up the second time around with 29 extra runs to play with courtesy of Justin Greaves sensational, and perhaps unlikely, five-wicket haul in the first half of the day. But Abbas' twin strikes with another magical new-ball spell pulled them back, ensuring their slender lead did not turn into a significant advantage by tea. Abbas strikes early - 2 wickets In 7 spotless overs, Abbas got Brandon King and Kavem Hodge. Classic Abbas - relentless fourth-stump line, seaming ball, and a feathered edge to dismiss both. Ali chips in before tea Mohammad Ali helped with a brilliant return catch to dismiss Amir Jangoo late in the session. That left West Indies 30 for 3 at tea, undoing some of the good work Greaves had done earlier. Pressure continues after teaNo let-up from Pakistan. West Indies had to scrap for every run. Ali was a bit loose, pitching too straight to Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who punished anything on the pads through midwicket. But pressure from the other end told. Shai Hope lost his head: Played a nice cover drive off Khurram Shahzad Next ball tried to charge down and slog Shahzad over his head Didn't account for it coming back in. Bowled - middle stump shattered. By now, Greaves was on a roll, toppling debutant Ali Usman with minimal effort, bringing one back into his pads to trap him in front. Pakistan's discipline had evaporated with the heat Greaves was bringing and Mohammad Rizwan was induced into flapping rashly at Greaves on the cusp of lunch, with the edge swallowed by the keeper. The other side of lunch, he made it five wickets in five maiden overs in a scarcely believable spell that yanked Pakistan right out of the driver's seat they had begun to get comfortable in.