Misbah, Azhar hand Pakistan 81-run lead vs West Indies

For the second time in two successive Tests, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq missed a well-deserved century by a single run as he along with opener Azhar Ali guided the visitors to an 81-run lead over the West Indies, who finished the third day's play at 40/1 in their second innings here.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and one-down Shimron Hetmyer were at the crease on 8 and 22 respectively when the umpires dislodged the bails on the third day of the second Test at the Kensington Oval here on Tuesday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 172/3, Azhar (105) and Misbah (99) went on to add 98 runs for the fourth wicket, with the 32-year-old opener getting to his 13th Test ton before leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo broke the stand in the post-lunch session.

Azhar, who got to his century after facing 268 balls and helping the ball to the boundary nine times, was caught behind by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich off Bishoo.

Misbah continued his marathon effort, reaching his half century of 135 balls to raise 57 runs for the fifth wicket with Asad Shafiq (15) before the 42-year-old skipper, in his attempt to get to the three figure mark fell prey to West Indies captain Jason Holder.

Misbah looked set for his career's 11th Test ton, consuming 201 balls with nine fours and two sixes before being caught in two minds to unwittingly edge a short delivery from Holder, which Shai Hope latched on to comfortably at second slip.

Pakistan lost the remaining five wickets in a span of 77 runs with pacer Shannon Gabriel accounting for the wickets of Sarfaraz Ahmed (9), Shadab Khan (16) and Yasir Shah (24) while Holder picked Shafiq and Mohammad Amir to take his haul to three wickets.

In response, pacer Mohammad Abbas gave Pakistan the advantage with the early wicket of opener Keiran Powell (6), brilliantly caught behind by a diving Sarfraz Ahmed before Brathwaite and Hetmyer steadied the ship with a 32-run unbroken second wicket stand till stumps.

Brief Scores: West Indies 312 & 40/1 (Shimron Hetmyer 22 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 8 not out) vs Pakistan 393 (Azhar Ali 105, Misbah-ul-Haq 99, Shannon Gabriel 4/81).

--IANS

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