SHARJAH: Pakistan finished the opening day of the third and final Test against West Indies on 255-8 in Sharjah on Sunday.
Opener Sami Aslam led the way with 74 while skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (53), Sarfraz Ahmed (51) and Younis Khan (51) also contributing after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat at Sharjah stadium.
At close, Mohammad Amir was six not out and Yasir Shah one not out.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo took 4-74 and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel chipped in with 3-58.
Pakistan lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai and the second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan lost two early wickets but recovered to reach 81-2 at lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test against the West Indies on Sunday.
Paceman Shannon Gabriel dismissed opener Azhar Ali and number three Asad Shafiq — both for 0 — off the second and fourth ball of the match after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat at Sharjah stadium.
Opener Sami Aslam (37) and Younis Khan (39) were at the crease at the break after adding 80 to start building a recovery.
Pakistan are eyeing a series whitewash after winning the first Test in Dubai by 56 runs and the second in Abu Dhabi by 133.
This is Misbah-ul-Haq’s 49th Test as captain, beating Imran Khan’s Pakistan record of 48 Tests as skipper.
Misbah started positively by winning the third toss in succession and instantly deciding to bat on a grassless and well rolled pitch.
But Ali, who scored a career-best 302 not out in the first Test, edged a lifting delivery from Gabriel after Sami had taken a single off the first ball.
Asad Shafiq also survived just one delivery before being trapped lbw. West Indian captain Jason Holder successfully challenged Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s not out decision.
Gabriel had figures of 2-22 at lunch.
Pakistan brought back pacemen Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz — rested for the second Test — in place of Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali.
West Indies also made two changes from the Abu Dhabi Test, with fit-again wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich replacing Shai Hope and paceman Alzarri Joseph coming in for Miguel Cummins.
