Dubai: Pakistan removed the obdurate Darren Bravo late on the third day of the first day-night Test to reinvigorate their cause after a dogged West Indies batting display in Dubai.
Bravo defied a potent bowling attack to score 87 during a 402-minute stay at the crease while Samuels made 76 as the West Indies closed on 315-6, still trailing Pakistan’s first innings total of 579-3 declared by 264 runs.
Shane Dowrich was unbeaten on 27 with skipper Jason Holder 10 not out at the close of play.
West Indies need to reach 380 to avoid following-on, but the duration of their innings suggests Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-haq may not enforce it and bat again on Sunday.
Bravo and Samuels were engaged in a resolute 113-run stand for the third wicket as the Dubai stadium pitch did not offer much help to Pakistan’s attack.
When it looked Bravo would remain unbeaten and complete his eighth hundred he fell to a lazy push off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz and was caught by Azhar Ali at forward short-leg for the debutant’s first wicket.
Bravo hit nine fours and a six during his 258-ball vigil.
Bravo had added another 77 for the fourth wicket with Jermaine Blackwood (37) but fiery paceman Wahab Riaz took two quick-fire wickets after Pakistan took the second new ball with the score at 229-3.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah and Riaz finished with two wickets apiece, with the latter explaining that dew made it tough for the bowlers.
“The ball got wet because of the dew yesterday and when we came today it had gone soft so it was wet, so there was no help for the bowlers and that’s why it was tough to get wickets, but we will do our best to effect a result,” said Riaz.
Samuels hit two boundaries off the first two balls he faced, driving powerfully off Shah and settling down quickly on a flat pitch.
He took a single off Nawaz to reach his 24th Test fifty and continued in an aggressive style with 13 boundaries.
PTI
