West Indies were sniffing victory when they bowled out Pakistan for 208 in the second innings, but Yasir Shah (3/30) was once again a thorn in their flesh as he ran through the top order. Chasing a modest 153, the Windies finished day four at 114/5, 39 short of the target. Importantly, the visitors still have their star of this Test, Kraigg Brathwaite (44 not out), at the crease.
West Indies skipper Jason Holder (5/30) carried on his good work from Tuesday and picked up his maiden five-wicket haul. However, it was Pakistan who snatched back the advantage through a timely 86-run partnership between Azhar Ali (91) and Sarfraz Ahmed (42). Even after Ahmed departed, the steely Ali held fort and looked poised to score a hundred before he became Devendra Bishoo's third scalp of the day.
Then came one of the most comical moments that one would have come across in the game in recent times. Mohammad Amir was sucked into his own batting prowess as he was lost in thought after clubbing Bishoo over his head. The ball was destined to go over the boundary line but Roston Chase did brilliantly to pull the ball back in. Amir and Wahab Riaz, left perplexed by what had just happened, dashed off for a crazy run and Amir was caught short at the crease as Holder collected the ball and dislodged the stumps.
Holder polished off the rest of the tail. Any team has a fighting chance when they have a bowler like Shah in their ranks and the leg-spinner bamboozled Leon Johnson, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels. Riaz got into the act by cleaning up Jermaine Blackwood's stumps off a peach. The left-armer quickly sent Roston Chase back to the pavilion to leave West Indies in tatters at 67/5.
Just as West Indies looked like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the prolific Brathwaite joined hands with Shane Dowrich to bail their team out. The opener placed his trust in Dowrich, who showed very little signs of nerves, and was assured with his shots; he was tight with his defence and pierced the field when a loose delivery was on offer. The first hour on day five is likely to decide the outcome.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 281 (Sami Aslam 74, Misbah ul Haq 53; Devendra Bishoo 4/77, Shannon Gabriel 3/67) & 208 (Azhar Ali 91, Sarfraz Ahmed 42; Jason Holder 5/30, Devendra Bishoo 3/46) lead West Indies 331 (Kraigg Brathwaite 142 not out, Roston Chase 50; Wahab Riaz 5/88, Mohammad Amir 3/71) & 114/5 (Kraigg Brathwaite 44 not out, Shane Dowrich 36 not out; Yasir Shah 3/30) by 38 runs.