Resolute Brathwaite foils Pakistan in third Test

SHARJAH — Opener Kraigg Brathwaite needed five runs for a fighting hundred as he foiled Pakistan on the second day of the third and final Test in Sharjah on Monday. Brathwaite anchored the West Indian innings with a 206-ball 95 not out after they were struggling at 38-3, putting two solid stands of 83 each with Roston Chase (50) for the fifth wicket and with Shane Dowrich (47) for the sixth. At close skipper Jason Holder was unbeaten on six as West Indies were 244-6, just 37 runs away from Pakistan’s first innings total of 281. This gives West Indies a good position for the first time in the series against Pakistan who are targeting a 3-0 clean sweep after winning the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai and the second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi. Brathwaite batted solidly as he negotiated Pakistan’s spin-cum-pace attack with full confidence, having so far hit ten boundaries. West Indies lost Jermaine Blackwood for 23 soon after lunch and it looked like they would once again concede a lead but Brathwaite held the innings well with Chase and Dowrich. Chase hit leg-spinner Yasir Shah for a straight six to bring up his fifty but was caught in the slip off Mohammad Amir in the next over. His 89-ball stay was spiced with six fours and a six. Dowrich then complimented Brathwaite as they took West Indies to 234, with Dowrich benefitting from a catch off Wahab Riaz’s no ball on 15 and a let-off by Younis Khan on 21. Dowrich was finally bowled by Riaz from an inside edge. West Indies were struggling when they lost the key wicket of Darren Bravo for 11 before lunch. Bravo miscued a drive off a flighted ball from spinner Zulfiqar Babar and was smartly snapped up by a diving Amir at extra cover, his first catch in 20 Tests. Amir had no catch in his first 19 Tests — most matches without a catch for a player from the start of his career. West Indies got off to a disastrous start, with opener Leon Johnson trapped leg-before by Riaz in the fourth over for just one. Bravo, who made a fighting hundred in the first Test, was left frustrated by short-pitched deliveries from Riaz and Amir before getting out. Marlon Samuels also did not last long, trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Yasir Shah without scoring to leave West Indies struggling on 38-3. Earlier, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finished with figures of 4-77 while fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel took 3-67 and Alzarri Joseph 2-57 to dismiss Pakistan for 281. Pakistan added 26 to their overnight score before losing Amir for 20 and Shah for 12, both to Joseph. The pair added 32 for the ninth wicket. Pakistan drop Hafeez from New Zealand Tests Pakistan Monday left out experienced but out-of-form opener Mohammad Hafeez from the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series in New Zealand next month.The 36-year-old had a wretched time on the team's England tour this summer, scraping together 102 runs in three Tests before being axed for the final match. He also failed in the three-day side game against West Indies in Sharjah earlier this month, falling for zero and nine which also kept him out of the ongoing three-match series against the same opponents. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq told AFP Hafeez must clear his bowling action. "Hafeez will be going for his bowling action tests soon and once he is cleared he will definitely be considered," said Inzamam of the 50-Test veteran. Hafeez's bowling action was reported in November 2014 for the first time and again in June 2015, leading to a 12-month ban from bowling at international level. His place went to 27-year-old left-hander Sharjeel Khan, who has played 20 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20s but has yet to experience the five-day format. "Sharjeel has been playing well in limited overs Cricket so we have given him a chance as an attacking option," said Inzamam. The squad has five fast bowlers in Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Imran Khan with Yasir Shah and Mohammad Nawaz as two spinners. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, playing in the ongoing third Test against West Indies in Sharjah, failed to land a place in the New Zealand trip. "We took into account the conditions in New Zealand and then selected the squad and it's a balanced mix of youth and experience," said Inzamam. Misbah-ul-Haq will skipper the Test team. The first Test starts in Christchurch from November 17 followed by the second in Hamilton from Nov. 25. After New Zealand Pakistan fly to Australia, where they play three Tests and five one-day internationals. Squads for these will be announced later. Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan. Zimbabwe rally after collapse In Harare, half-centuries from Zimbabwe batsmen Peter Moor and Graeme Cremer kept Sri Lanka at bay, but the hosts were nevertheless on track for a significant first-innings lead on day three of the first Test at Harare Sports Club on Monday. Having seen Zimbabwe lose five wickets for 47 runs on the third morning as they replied to Sri Lanka’s 537 all out, Moor and Cremer put on 132 for the seventh wicket to stabilize the innings. Although Moor succumbed to a short ball from debutant Lahiru Kumara to depart for 79 in the afternoon session, Cremer batted on to reach a career-best 62 not out as Zimbabwe went to tea on 291 for seven. Zimbabwe’s collapse in the morning owed more to a series of rash strokes than trying conditions or outstanding bowling, as they resumed on a promising 88 for one. Opener Tino Mawoyo started the trend when he pulled a short ball from Suranga Lakmal straight to the man in the deep to depart for 45, and two overs later Hamilton Masakadza prodded forward to edge Lakmal to slip for 33. A careless sweep from Sean Williams saw him pick out deep midwicket, and a lack of foot movement accounted for Craig Ervine and Malcolm Waller as they were trapped lbw by Dilruwan Perera. At 139 for six, Zimbabwe were in danger of being shot out and forced to follow on, but Moor’s counter-attacking knock changed the momentum of the innings. His two early sixes forced the field back, while Cremer was content to provide dogged support from the other end. The pair were only separated when Kumara produced a quick bouncer that Moor had no answer to, as the batsman fended to slip. Kumara went on to knock Cremer’s helmet off his head and rattle the Zimbabwe skipper, who was fortunate to see his hook shot dropped at deep backward square-leg soon after. — AFP