West Indies will take confidence from their first Test fight as they look to once again restrict Pakistan to a gettable total in the second Test in Abu Dhabi, according to all-rounder Kraigg Brathwaite.
In that opening match of the series, West Indies conceded a first innings deficit of 222 before bowling Pakistan out for 123 and ending up just 56 runs short in defeat.
This time around, they gave up a 228 run advantage and Pakistan moved to nine runs shy of their second innings total in Dubai with just the one loss of wicket.
It puts the hosts in a commanding lead of 342 runs and nine wickets remaining with two days still to go in the Test.
But the West Indies vice-captain insists they will draw on their Dubai performance by engaging the same fight.
“I think as a team, batting wise, we didn’t hit the targets we would like but at this stage of the game also it is important as batters that, as we did in the first Test, we believe in ourselves and go out there and put big partnerships and big scores on the board,” said Brathwaite.
“It is key for us to believe in ourselves and when we do get a chance to bat again we have to do just as we did in Dubai and fight to the end.
“I think the pitch is playing quite good. Obviously as the ball gets old we see it reversing and the pitch is getting some rough so the ball is tending to spin but I think the bowlers are confident and it wasn’t a bad spell this evening but Pakistan batted well.
“Come tomorrow, we have to hit our straps again and when we get our opportunity to bat again we have to fight hard.”
Brathwaite has become an increasingly important bowler for captain Jason Holder, being preferred ahead of out and out spinner Devendra Bishoo at times across these first two Tests.
It is something he says he relishes.
“I think [Holder] uses me to when he looks to get a breakthrough when nothing is happening,” added the West Indies opener. “Obviously, we have two spinners and whenever I get an opportunity to bowl I just put my best foot forward and always back myself to get the breakthrough.”
Brathwaite was unlucky with the ball on day three, twice having lbw decisions overturned and denied wickets by the TV umpire.
When put to him what he thinks of DRS being standardised across the game he was diplomatic.
“That’s life and we can’t do anything about that,” he said of the two decisions. “At this point, I can’t really comment on that [current use of DRS]. I think it can go both ways, that is the truth for me. If we were batting it would have gone our way so it’s hard to judge that.”
