West Indies reeling: Hosts in control as Yasir takes five

Leg-spinner becomes fastest Asian to 100 wickets

KARACHI: Yasir Shah’s five-for helped him become the joint second-fastest player in history to 100 Test wickets, while also giving skipper Misbahul Haq the option to enforce the follow on against the West Indies but the 42-year-old opted against it.

Pakistan lost only three wickets in the first innings as they amassed a mammoth 579-3 before declaring but the second innings was not as comfortable for the hosts, with wickets tumbling on regular intervals.

West Indian leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo came into his own and helped himself to some wickets as Pakistani batsmen went in search of some quick runs on a pitch that started to turn.



However, the day’s proceedings were dominated by Yasir Shah as the 30-year-old, playing in his 17th Test, bowled tail-ender Miguel Cummins in the first innings to reach the milestone only behind England pacer George Lohmann, who took just 16 Tests to do so back in 1896.

Australia’s Charlie Turner and Clarrie Grimmett, along with England’s Sydney Barnes, also completed 100 wickets in their 17th Test.

But Yasir is the fastest Asian to the landmark, overcoming Indian spinner Ravichandaran Ashwin who took a Test more.



“What Yasir has done is huge,” former Test cricketer Salahuddin Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “He did very well against England in the first match and has once again proven his mettle. Taking a five-wicket haul on such a batting friendly track is no easy task. It takes a lot of quality to take wickets on such a surface.”

Salahuddin, a former chief selector, feels the 100-wicket milestone is just the beginning for the leg-spinner.

“We invited Yasir for his very first camp a few years ago and he showed a lot of potential and promise back then,” he revealed. “He is a very effective bowler, his googly especially. If he continues to bowl in such a manner, he has the potential to earn a lot more accolades; he has a very bright future. Apart from his bowling skills, he has proven to be a very good fielder as well so that makes him a complete team-man.”



‘Enforcing follow-on could have been better’

Salahuddin believes Misbah should have enforced the follow-on against the West Indies after the Caribbean side fell 222 runs short of Pakistan’s total, being dismissed for 357 having started the day at 315-6.

“There is not much time left in the Test,” he said. “Enforcing the follow-on would have increased the chances of a result.”

Salahuddin excited by performance of youngsters

Salahuddin also lauded Azhar Ali for his unbeaten 302 in the first innings. “Azhar is a technically sound batsman,” he said. “Pakistan now boast a very good lot of young players, such as Sami Aslam and Babar Azam, who are showing that they are very good prospects.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2016.

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