NOT for the first time in the series the West Indies are trailing Pakistan, but like the historic first floodlit Test in Dubai where Pakistan won the tourists on Sunday once again were saved the humiliation as Misbah-ul-Haq decided to bat again and take the game out of the reach of Jason Holder and company by extending their 228-run first innings lead.

By the end of the day the home team were leading by 342 runs which appears good enough as nine of their wickets are still intact.

For the Caribbean side, I think it would be mighty tough to avoid defeat in the last six or so sessions when they bat again to chase a potentially huge target.

It is interesting to note that May 2002 was the last occasion when Pakistan enforced follow-on in a Test match and won it. Waqar Younis enforced the follow-on against New Zealand in Lahore after Pakistan on Inzamam-ul-Haq’s epic 329 had amassed a mountainous 643, and went on to win by a gigantic margin of innings and 324 runs. Since then no Pakistan skipper has enforced a follow-on.

Abu Dhabi, Pakistan’s adopted venue for international matches away from home, has turned out to be their favourite hunting ground. Be it Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka or England the eventual outcome at this remains encouraging and very similar, at least in Tests.

It will not be an understatement to say that Pakistan under Misbah here or in overseas Tests have done themselves credit. And we ought to admire their guts, spirit and and gumption to keep their nerves in control for achieving positive results despite being away from their family and home fans.

The wickets shared by Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah in the West Indies’ first innings suggests that when they come out to bat again on Monday, this slow-paced wicket on the fourth afternoon may turn out to be different.

A track on which the tourists could have a daunting and a rather torturous prospect to come to terms with Yasir and Zulfiqar Babar.

Zulfiqar’s flight and trajectory on a helping surface offering spin and bite will be tough to handle especially when Yasir starts unwinding his leg spin and googlies.

Half-centuries from Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali left the stage at the end of the third day for Pakistan to completely squeeze the opponents.

Only a herculean effort by Holder’s men can now keep Pakistan away from snatching a series win here.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2016