Yasir Shah spins Pakistan to series victory

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took six second-innings wickets in Pakistan’s crushing 133-run second Test win over the West Indies here on Tuesday as they took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The wily spinner finished with 6/124 to secure his second 10-wicket haul in Test cricket after claiming four wickets in the first innings as the West Indies were bowled out for 322 before tea on a weary fifth and final day pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Shah had deprived West Indian batsman Jermaine Blackwood his second Test hundred when he bowled him for 95 in the pre-lunch session.

West Indies, set a mammoth 456-run target for an unlikely victory, still fought hard and batted for 108 overs with Shai Hope also scoring a fighting 41.

Hope and Devendra Bishoo fought for 45 runs during their eighth-wicket stand before left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2/51) had Hope and Bishoo (26) caught to finish the match.

In between Babar’s wickets, Shah had Miguel Cummins bowled for nought to finish the match with figures of 10/210, having taken 4/86 in the first innings.

Pakistan won the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai, leaving the third and final Test in Sharjah starting from Sunday inconsequential. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq showed delight at the series win.

“It’s a good win and I am very happy,” said Misbah, who equalled Imran Khan’s record of most matches as Pakistan captain with 48. But this is Misbah’s 23rd victory while Imran had only 14.

“The pitch was not helping the spinners so it was tough to get the West Indies out even on a fifth day pitch but we have match-winners like Shah who bowled very well.”

Meanwhile, West Indian captain Jason Holder was pleased with his team’s fight. “We’ve showed signs of improvement. Unfortunately we weren’t able to start the game the way we like,” said Holder who has now lost eight of his 11 Tests as captain.