Bravo firm after Samuels departs in first Test | Sunday Observer

Bravo firm after Samuels departs in first Test

16 October, 2016

DUBAI, Saturday (AFP) – West Indian batsman Darren Bravo followed up Marlon Samuels’ half-century to keep Pakistan at bay in the first day-night Test in Dubai on Saturday.

Bravo was unbeaten on 56, with Jermaine Blackwood 14 not out, as West Indies, 211-3 at dinner, still trail Pakistan’s first innings total of 579-3 declared by 368 runs with seven wickets in hand.

West Indies still need 169 more runs to avoid the follow-on.

Pakistan, who removed overnight batsman Kraig Brathwaite in the second over of the day, were left frustrated by a 118-run stand for the third wicket between Samuels and Bravo.

Bravo has kept the fight with his 16th half-century, completed with a fluent boundary off leg-spinner Yasir Shah. He has so far hit six boundaraies and a six.

Shah has threatened to take wickets, having so far taken 2-71 in his 26 overs.

The Dubai stadium pitch has not taken much turn which Pakistan could have exploited as Bravo and Samuels were steady in the two-hour session. Samuels hit two boundaries off the first two balls he faced, driving powerfully to leg-spinner Shah and settling down quickly on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.

He took a single off spinner Mohammad Nawaz to reach his 24th Test fifty and continued in an aggressive style with 13 boundaries.

Samuels looked set for his first hundred since April last year but fell leg-before to paceman Sohail Khan as he missed an incoming delivery and was caught right infornt.

Samuels cracked 13 boundaries in his 139-ball stay.

Comments