New Delhi:
West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite played a gritty knock to guide West Indies to an an absorbing five-wicket win over Pakistan in the third and final Test at Sharjah on Thursday.
The win is their first Test win outside West Indies and Bangladesh since 2007. It was also West Indies' first win in 14 Tests and their first under the captaincy of Jason Holder.
West Indies were on the brink of victory in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah as they require just 39 runs on the final day to seal the match.
Skipper Jason Holder took a maiden five-wicket haul and opener Kraigg Brathwaite stood firm in a tense chase to bring West Indies closer to victory in the final Test.
Holder set his team without a win in their last 13 Tests on the right path with a career-best 5-30 to dismantle Pakistan for 208, which gave the West Indies a target of 153 in 135 overs spread over four sessions.
When bad light forced closure nine overs early on the fourth and penultimate day, Brathwaite was unbeaten on 44 to anchor West Indies to 114-5, still needing 39 runs with five wickets intact.
Brathwaite, who carried his bat in the first innings with 142, has so far added 47 runs for the sixth wicket with Shane Dowrich (36 not out) to lift West Indies from a struggling 67-5.
Brathwaite, who survived a bat-pad catch review on 43,has hit four boundaries in another resolute 88-ball knock,frustrating Pakistan's bowling for a second time in the match.
Dowrich has hit a six and three boundaries for the WestIndies. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said "it could still goeither way". He added: "We are two wickets away from being favouritesand this can happen in two balls.
"We should have scored big in the first innings and abelow par score of 281 left us play chasing games."
From 23 without loss,West Indies slumped to 67-5 with leg-spinner Yasir Shah (3-30) dismissing Leon Johnsonleg-before for 12, Darren Bravo caught behind for three andMarlon Samuels caught in the deep for 10 in the space of 13balls.
Opener Azhar Ali fell nine short of his 12th century whenhe edged Bishoo in the slip after initially deciding to sweepthe ball but later changing his mind.
He batted for 234 balls and hit six fours and a six,adding an invaluable 86 for the fifth wicket with SarfrazAhmed, who made 42. Nawaz helped Ali add another 41 for the sixth wicket butfell to Bishoo, who finished with 18 wickets in the series the most by a West Indian against Pakistan in a three-matchseries.
Holder then removed the tail, with wickets of Riaz (one)and Yasir Shah (nought) to improve on his previous best of3-15 against England at Barbados in May last year.
Amir was foolishly run out after watching the long-onfielder Chase save a six and throwing at the bowler's end withthe batsman short of his crease.
Pakistan lead the three-match series 2-0 after winningthe first Test in Dubai by 56 runs and second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi.
