Bravo’s fighting ton keeps West Indies’ hopes alive

West Indies 357 and 232 for 6 (Bravo 102*, Holder 8*, Amir 3-52) need 114 runs to beat Pakistan 579 for 3 dec and 123Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Darren Bravo held Pakistan off with a fighting ton and put on 77 with Roston Chase for the fifth wicket to take West Indies within 160 runs of their target of 346, before Yasir Shah and Wahab Riaz brought Pakistan roaring back with two wickets in three balls. Bravo went into dinner unbeaten on 102 off 223, with Jason Holder for company, and held the key as West Indies required 114 more to win with four wickets in hand.

Only twice in Test history had the last four wickets put on more than 150 to successfully chase down a target. The more recent of those was in 1907. West Indies’ last four wickets were left with 152 more to pull off a stunning come-from-behind victory.

For much of the final day, Bravo proved to be an immovable object at the centre of the Dubai cricket ground. He carried forward his fine form and doughty resistance from the first innings, showing the application and patience to rebuff whatever Pakistan threw at him. His forward defensive shots, of which there were many, were perfectly middled, and he was equally convincing when leaving the ball. On occasion, he unfurled one of his crisp drives or cuts to the off-side boundary, but his knock was more about grit than flair.

After West …

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