DUBAI // Devendra Bishoo said he believes West Indies are in a position to push for victory over Pakistan in the first Test, after he returned the best bowling figures ever in Tests in the UAE.
The Guyanese leg spinner took eight for 49, the fifth-best return by a West Indies bowler in Tests — better than any of the all-time greats like Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall or Courtney Walsh managed.
By the close of Day 4, the Caribbean side had reached 95 for two, leaving them 251 more to force an unlikely win on the last day.
“I am delighted right now,” Bishoo said. “I am so happy, I don’t have words to describe it.
“I am more happy about the position we have put ourselves in, that we can win the Test mach. I think we set up ourselves well in this Test match, after a hard first two days.
“We have made up very well, and I think we have a good chance.”
• Day 4 report: Devendra Bishoo and poor Pakistan batting provide West Indies a glimmer of hope in Dubai Test
The fact West Indies would have a chance to win this Test seemed remote when Pakistan racked up 579 for three in the first innings.
On the back of thrashings in the limited overs series which preceded this match, the away side have shown commendable resilience over the past two days.
“Everybody is up for it now, and we have been boosted,” Bishoo said. “The Twenty20 and one-day series have finished, and as a Test squad, having a day like today has set ourselves up for a really good series.”
Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach, said his side had given Bishoo “eight soft wickets,” after they collapsed from 77 for two to 123 all out.
The South African was livid that his side had allowed the opposition back into the game, having earned a 222-run lead on first innings.
“We worked so hard to get ourselves in front of the game, and in one session, we lost six for 11 and have given West Indies a sniff,” Arthur said.
“We want to be better than that. We batted very poorly today.”
The task facing West Indies still remains a tough one, given they will have to counter Yasir Shah, who went to 100 Test wickets when he took five in the first innings, on a wearing pitch.
“The wicket hasn’t deteriorated as much as we would have liked because there has been dew around,” Arthur said.
“It has definitely deteriorated, though, and we are happy about that, but we have to bowl well. We are in the game, and tomorrow we have to be on the money.”
[ pradley@thenational.ae ]
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