How to go to the brink and then pull back…

The first test between Pakistan and West Indies has reconfirmed the long-held dictum that Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.
When Pakistan declared at 579 for 3, it was rightly believed that West Indies had been left with only two options-(a) to put up a fight and lose, (b) to fight harder and draw. No third result was in any one’s reckoning.
West Indies closed the third day at 300+ for six and looked well set to avoid a follow-on and force a draw. Then Yasir Shah came into his own on the morning of the fourth day and West Indies were dismissed 222 runs short of Pakistan. Misbah chose not to enforce follow-on. Quite clearly he didn’t want his side to bat in the fourth innings, and come under pressure.
At 96 for 4 Pakistan in their second innings looked well set to give West Indies a target around 400.
But then Bishu did what Misbah had wanted to avoid. Pakistan was bundled out for 123.
The game was suddenly wide open—though target of 346 in the fourth innings didn’t look easy. West Indies closed the fourth day with a target of only 251 to meet and win. With 8 wickets in hand the target didn’t look beyond reach. Any hit-out innings from any of the West Indian free-hitters could turn the tables on Pakistan. On the fourth day, a total of 16 wickets had fallen. In the three previous days only nine wickets in all had been taken by the bowlers.
The prospect of uncertainty had already taken roots.
At 116 for 4 West Indies seemed to have suddenly gone out of the match. But Bravo had other ideas. When the West Indian score stood at 196 for 4, Pakistan had every reason to fear that an unenviable record was about to be created. A side scoring 579 for 3, with a triple century was about to lose!
Yasir Shah saved the day for Pakistan when he bowled a clever delivery to Bravo, and held a brilliant return catch.
Pakistan ended with broad smiles. But was once again reminded that just one hour of ‘complacent casualness’ was all that could land a team in a whirlpool.
Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir and Babar Azam were the heroes among the heroes.