Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Leg-spinner Yasir Shah deprived West Indian batsman Jermaine Blackwood of a fighting hundred by just five runs as Pakistan closed on a series-clinching victory in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Shah, who has figures of 5-105 for his eighth five-wicket haul, bowled Blackwood for 95 before West Indies reached 272-7 at lunch on the fifth and final day as Pakistan were just three wickets away from victory at Sehikh Zayed Stadium.
Pakistan won the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai.
At the break Shai Hope was 23 not out and Devendra Bishoo five not out as West Indies - set 456 to win - still need 184 more runs to win or bat out two sessions for a draw.
Blackwood defied Pakistan's spin-cum-pace attack in the first session by adding 63 for the fifth wicket with Roston Chase (20) and another 57 with Hope for the sixth to counter a weary fifth day pitch.
When it seemed Blackwood would complete his second Test hundred, Shah produced a beautiful delivery which kept straight and hit the batsman's pad, dislodging the stumps.
Blackwood hit 11 boundaries during his enterprising 127-ball stay.
Shah then trapped Jason Holder leg before for 16 to complete his five-wicket haul, the second in the series.
Resuming at 171-4 West Indian pair Blackwood and Chase batted without any problems for the first nine overs but in the tenth of the day Shah produced a sharp turning ball which took the edge off Chase's bat to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed for an easy catch.
Pakistan took the second new ball with the score on 223-5 but Blackwood hit two boundaries in Sohail Khan's first over.
Shah then took two more wickets to derail West Indies's fight.
The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from October 30.
AFP