West Indies, replying to Pakistan’s 579-3 declared, were 315-6 at the close of play on the third day of the first day-night Test in Dubai yesterday.
Shane Dowrich (27) and Jason Holder (10) were at the crease at stumps with the West Indies still trailing Pakistan’s first innings total by 264 runs.
 West Indies still need 65 runs to avoid the follow-on. Darren Bravo scored 87 and Marlon Samuels made 76. For Pakistan, Yasir Shah and Wahab Riaz took two wickets apiece.
 Bravo followed up Samuels’ half-century to keep Pakistan at bay for the better part of the day. Pakistan, who removed overnight batsman Kraig Brathwaite in the second over of the day, were left frustrated by the 118-run stand for the third wicket between Samuels and Bravo.
 Samuels made the most of a placid wicket to play some attractive shots that helped the visitors chip away at Pakistan’s massive first-innings total.
Having announced his arrival at the crease with consecutive fours off leg-spinner Yasir Shah, he continued to pepper the off-side boundary with excellent cuts and drives.
Samuels hit 13 fours in all, the best of which was probably an exquisitely timed on drive after skipping to the pitch of a ball from Mohamed Nawaz.
 After his departure, Bravo kept fight going with his 16th half-century, but his fight ended in the final half hour of play when he prodded debutant Mohamed Nawaz to Azhar Ali at forward short leg.
 The Dubai stadium pitch has not taken much turn which Pakistan could have exploited as Bravo and Samuels were steady in the two-hour session.
Samuels took a single off spinner Nawaz to reach his 24th Test fifty and continued in an aggressive style with 13 boundaries.
He looked set for his first hundred since April last year but fell leg-before to paceman Sohail Khan as he missed an incoming delivery and was caught right infornt. Samuels cracked 13 boundaries in his 139-ball stay.
 Pakistan had looked for quick wickets after West Indies resumed at 69-1 and were rewarded with one when Shah bowled Brathwaite for 32 with a delivery which turned slightly and beat the bat.
 Pakistan’s big total was built around opener Azhar Ali’s unbeaten 302 which is the fourth triple century for his country. The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).
Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz, who took two wickets — of Blackwood and Chase — in successive overs with a barrage of bouncers, said it was a difficult pitch.
“The pitch plays differently. Under light, it skids on. Otherwise it was keeping slow. We had a plan against these batsmen, the way Blackwood was playing.
“With the new ball, we took our chances. It is hard work on this surface.
“With the pink ball, it gets softer and doesn’t reverse. You have to bowl with the wet ball with dew.
“We are trying our best... bowling slow, short-pitched. It’s shiny on both sides, the ball loses its shape with dew as well,” added Riaz.