"I would like to dedicate my five-fer to Misbah bhai and Younis bhai" : Mohammad Abbas

[Abdullah719]

Departing stalwarts Younis Khan and captain Misbah ul Haq failed to make an impact in their farewell international innings but Pakistan were poised to press for a series-clinching victory over the West Indies at stumps on the fourth day at Windsor Park in Dominica.

Following the tedium of the first three days which saw a total of 15 wickets falling, 14 tumbled on the penultimate day of the series, ending with the home side at seven for one after being set a daunting victory target of 304.

Mohammad Abbas claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket to trigger a West Indies first innings collapse to 247 all out in the morning after they resumed at 218 for five with the match appearing at the start of the day to be dragging towards a dreary draw.

"Eight seasons of first-class cricket bowling long spells prepared me for this opportunity," said Abbas.

"I dedicate this performance to both Misbah and Younis because it is my great fortune to play with them but also unfortunate for it to be their last series." In attempting to build on that considerable lead of 129 Pakistan crashed to 90 for seven before Yasir Shah, with a Test-best 38 not out, and a determined 27 from Mohammad Amir allowed Misbah the luxury of a second innings declaration at 174 for eight late in the day.

Shah and Amir put on 61 for the eighth wicket and benefited from the continuing West Indian epidemic of errors in the field. Shah was caught behind off a no-ball from leg- spinner Devendra Bishoo and two catches were missed as the tail wagged and the home side wilted.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph claimed three wickets but the West Indies' failure to press home the advantage after getting Younis and Misbah cheaply proved costly.

Shah then turned the screws on his opponents when he removed Kieran Powell to a catch at silly point with what proved to be the final ball of an eventful day.

Abbas' early demolition job gave Pakistan a match-winning platform although their top-order batting failed to build on that considerable advantage.

Shan Masood and Younis Khan added 49 for the third wicket in mid-afternoon before Shannon Gabriel took his second wicket of the innings in prising out Masood.

His demise ushered in Misbah for his last innings but there was to be no fairytale as he attempted to hoist Bishoo out of the ground in the leg-spinner's first over and succeeded only in getting a spiralling top-edge for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to take the catch.

Younis also succumbed to Bishoo just before tea for 35, his errant sweep being well caught by Powell diving at backward square-leg.

Pakistan looked set to squander their hard-earned lead when Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq fell cheaply at the start of the final session but Shah and Amir rode their considerable luck in an entertaining partnership.

As well as they played though, the individual honours on the day belonged to Abbas.

Increasingly impressive in his first Test series, the fast-medium bowler took the last four wickets of the West Indies innings for three runs in a four-over spell after an early breakthrough from fellow pacer Amir to finish with the excellent figures of five for 46 off 25 disciplined overs.

Amir removed Dowrich to just the fourth ball of the day which brought in Roston Chase.

Forced to retire hurt on 60 the previous evening due to a blow on his right elbow, he was progressing in partnership with captain Jason Holder until Abbas replaced Amir from the pavilion end.

Chase was bowled off his pads for 69 by a full-length delivery and Bishoo then edged his first ball low to second slip where the ever-reliable Younis came up with his tenth catch of the series. That effort put him into the record books for the most catches ever by a Pakistani fielder in a Test series.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/repor...h-fall-but-pakistan-press-for-victory-2437635

 

[Abdul]

Mohammad Abbas in press conference

I had to put a lot of effort in today to pick up the wickets today so I'm very happy with my performance

I would like to dedicate my five-fer to Misbah bhai and Younis bhai

This five-fer is very special for me as it's come just in my third Test match

This pitch is very slow so our plan was simply that we shouldn't give away any runs

We will try our best to send Misbah and Younis on a winning note as they're our legends

 

[MenInG]

Excellent bowler Abbas and a wonderful thing to dedicate his 5fer to Misbah and Younis

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan’s new bowler Mohammad Abbas, who is currently with the national team at the training camp for the upcoming Champions Trophy, said on Tuesday that he is ready to face the challenge of one-day cricket.

“In the last season, I was the second top blower of the domestic season. Unfortunately, our team was not able to reach the semi-finals and I missed two matches but still finished up on the second spot,” said the bowler in England.

“In all these years, I have not only worked hard in the longer format but also in the one-day format too. I have always dreamt about being a part of the national team,” he said.

Abbas did well in the test series against West Indies by taking 15 wickets in three matches with a five-wicket haul.

“I was really excited when my name was called in the test series. That was the first step of my dream. Now I have to show what I am worth by doing well in the series,” he said.

“This was a perfect start which I wanted,” said the right-arm pacer about his first wicket on his second delivery of his international career.

“That ball and that wicket gave me the confidence I was lacking. The pressure of playing international cricket was released with this wicket,” said the pacer.

“My second and third spell boosted my confidence further and I ended up taking three wickets in the first match.”

Abbas took his career’s first five-wicket haul and also helped the team win the match and the series with his six wickets in the last match to complete his 15 wickets tally.

“That was the proudest moment of my life,” he said.

Talking about his partnership with the former captain Misbahul Haq in the first match, he said that when it was his time to go on the pitch for the first time as a batsman, he was asked to build a partnership with Misbah.

“I was the last man in, and when I came in Misbah was on 68. I went in and told him what I was asked to do and he was supportive.”

“The West Indies series has been a memorable one for me and now I am looking forward to making my name in the limited over format too,” said the latest addition to the national team.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1334934/r...e-of-one-day-format-says-pacer-mohammad-abbas