Kraigg Brathwaite ton puts West Indies in charge against Pakistan

 Opener Kraigg Brathwaite became the fifth West Indian to carry his bat through an innings on Tuesday, leaving Pakistan in arrears in the third and final Test in Sharjah.

At tea Pakistan were 32-0 in their second innings, with openers Azhar Ali (16) and Sami Aslam (15) at the crease, still trailing by 24 runs after West Indies were dismissed for 337.

For the first time in the series West Indies surged ahead, courtesy of Brathwaite's patient 318-ball knock.

He added an invaluable 60 runs for the eighth wicket with Devendra Bishoo, who made a solid 27, to leave the Pakistan attack frustrated.

In the end it was left to the lively pace of Wahab Riaz to take the final three wickets for his second five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 5-88 in 26.4 overs of hard work.

Riaz, whose first five-wicket haul came in his debut Test against England at The Oval in 2010, had Bishoo caught behind before dismissing Alzarri Joseph (six) and Shannon Gabriel (0) to wrap up the innings.

Pace partner Mohammad Amir took 3-71 while spinners Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar took a wicket apiece.

Brathwaite follows in the footsteps of Frank Worrell, Conrad Hunte, Desmond Haynes (three times) and Chris Gayle in batting throughout an entire innings.

The opener had a lucky escape when wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed failed to hold a sharp, rising edge off spinner Mohammad Nawaz when he was on 121.

In the same over, Bishoo was given out off a sweep shot but he successfully reviewed English umpire Michael Gough's decision as the ball had hit fielder Ali's helmet before he took the catch.

Resuming at 244-6, the West Indies were looking for a good lead to put pressure on Pakistan for the first time in the series as they fight to avoid a 3-0 whitewash.

Brathwaite hit Amir for his 11th boundary off the day's first ball, and then on-drove him towards mid-wicket for two to reach his hundred off 211 balls.

Pakistan took the second new ball with the total on 251 and Amir struck instantly, clean-bowling Jason Holder with a sharp incoming delivery for 16.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai and second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Source: AFP