Pakistan 452 & 227/2d
West Indies 224 & 322 (108.0 ov)
Pakistan won by 133 runs
ABU DHABI // Misbah-ul-Haq expressed disappointment over the downfall of the once-mighty West Indies after Pakistan achieved a series-clinching win in the second Test.
Pakistan thumped West Indies by 133 runs on the fifth and final day to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The loss is West Indies’ 19th in their last 29 Tests since November 2013, having won only four and drawn the remaining six.
It is in total contrast to the West Indies team of the 1980s, when, under Clive Lloyd’s captaincy, they were an indomitable force at international level, going undefeated in 27 Tests from January 1982 to December 1984.
More from Pakistan v West Indies:
• Day 5: Yasir Shah pummels West Indies into submission
• Day 4: Six wickets of separation for Pakistan
• Day 3: Pakistan 'in a commanding position'
• Day 2: Rahat Ali takes early wickets
• Day 1: Younis Khan's 33rd Test century
“That’s bit disappointing,” Misbah said, referring to West Indies’ run. “If you see their strength in international cricket, they were always a force but now they are having a downfall.”
Misbah, however, was hopeful of the team’s future. “They are a young side with some players performing well in bits and pieces at the moment,” he said. “They will become a good side but at the moment they are lacking experience.
“Everyone wants to see a strong West Indies side like we had in the past. Right now it’s really a big disappointing factor for all of their fans.”
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah finished with six for 124 to secure his second 10-wicket haul in Tests as West Indies were bowled out for 322 before tea. Yasir claimed four for 86 in the first innings. He also deprived Windies batsman Jermaine Blackwood his second Test hundred when he bowled him for 95 in the pre-lunch session.
West Indies, set a mammoth 456-run target for an unlikely victory, resumed on 171 for four yesterday and fought hard, batting for 108 overs with Shai Hope also scoring a fighting 41.
Hope and Devendra Bishoo fought for 45 runs during their eighth-wicket stand before left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2-51) had Hope and Bishoo (26) caught to finish the match.
In between Babar’s wickets, Yasir had Miguel Cummins bowled for nought.
West Indies now face the prospect of a whitewash in the Tests, with the third and final match starting in Sharjah from Sunday.
The tourists were also routed 3-0 in both the Twenty20 and one-day international series.
Misbah, who equalled Imran Khan’s record of most Tests as captain with 48, is understandably happy with his own team’s progress. “It’s a matter of happiness to equal Imran’s record but I think I am more happy because we won the match,” said Misbah, who now has 23 wins to Imran’s 14.
However, he agreed that the Zayed Cricket Stadium pitch was unresponsive to bowlers.
“It was a tough pitch to get bastmen out but at the end it is satisfactory. I think wins help in the development of the team and its rise in the rankings.”
Pakistan are No 2 in the Test rankings behind India, while West Indies are eighth, ahead of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Jason Holder now has eight defeats in 11 Tests as West Indies captain but he feels there are signs of improvement.
“It is a young and inexperienced squad so it will take time to get the results we have been looking for,” said Holder, appointed captain last year.
“We have been in the position of inconsistency for the last number of years so I don’t feel any pressure.
“I am here to do a job and I am trying to do as best as possible.
“It’s almost a decade since we have been struggling. We are in a situation where we are trying to get things right.
“It will take some time for these boys to get nourished and developed, and we have to give them that opportunity to do so,” the all-rounder added.
“If you have watched our cricket for the last couple of months then we have shown signs of improvement.”
West Indies lost the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai, but they still fought hard in both the matches, batting for 109 and 108 overs respectively in the fourth innings of the two Tests.
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