West Indies vs Pakistan 2017, 3rd Test: Day 4, 5 talking points

Pakistan survived a top order collapse to put on a healthy target of 304 on Day 4 of the final Test at Dominica. West Indies were 7/1 in reply at stumps after Yasir Shah, who knocked up his career best score of 38 to help revive Pakistan wayward second innings, dismissed Kieran Powell off the last ball of the day.

Earlier, Mohammad Abbas completed a maiden five-wicket haul to cut short West Indies' attempt to catch up to the visitors' first innings total. But the hosts' fought back by reducing Pakistan to 90/7 before Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir put on a 61 run stand to recover the innings.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 376/10 and 174/8 dec (Yasir 38, Younis 35, Joseph 3/53). West Indies 247/10 (Chase 69, Abbas 5/46) and 7/1.

Here are the talking points from the day's play at Dominica.

#5 Mohammad Abbas' burst of 4-1-3-4

West Indies had hoped to reduce Pakistan's lead by at least double digits when they came out to bat on Day 4. But instead, they found Mohammad Abbas donning the role of strike bowler. The young seamer bowled Waqar-esque yorkers to send back Chase and Joseph.

Chase’s wicket was a strange one as Abbas’ yorker ricocheted off his pads and castled the stumps. Gabriel didn't last long either as Abbas completed a maiden five-wicket haul. The fast bowler has gone from strength to strength in this series and ended it on a high with a searing spell of fast bowling.

#4 West Indies fight back with top order wickets

West Indies sent the top order packing and reduced them to 90/7

Given the way that the hosts' innings dismantled early in the day, a fightback seemed difficult to imagine. But the Windies have been rather unpredictable and fighting hard right through the series. They did that once again here at the Roseau.

Gabriel struck first up, getting rid of Azhar Ali for 3. But the bigger blow came when Chase came on to the attack and had Babar Azam bat padding a catch to short leg at the stroke of lunch. Pakistan were reduced to 8/2 and one could sense another collapse waiting to happen.

#3 Younis-Misbah bat together one last time

Misbah and Younis played together for one last time in a 28-ball stand

It is not often that two stalwarts retire together in World Cricket. But these two veterans from Pakistan chose the same series to bow out and got one last chance to put together a memorable partnership. Despite a million Pakistani fans glued on to see how the stand proceeded, it lasted a mere 28 balls.

Misbah fell for 2 to Bishoo, playing one of his favourite shots - the slog sweep - while Younis Khan did not last long either, departing for 35 while playing his famous sweep shot. Pakistan's most successful Test skipper and most successful Test batsman bowed out of Test cricket a bit softly but not many will be complaining.

#2 The rescue act from Amir and Yasir Shah

Yasir Shah fought back with his highest Test innings

West Indies had created havoc by reducing Pakistan to 90/7 and the last session saw an engaging battle between the Windies bowlers and the Pakistan tail. Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir are no mugs with the bat and took it upon themselves to give the visitors a healthy lead.

The duo put on a shaky 61-run partnership that took the lead from 219 to 280. Yasir and Hasan Ali then took it past the 300 mark after the dismissal of Amir. West Indies had only themselves to blame for letting through a few regulation catches to bring back Pakistan into the game.

#1 An uphill task awaits the Windies

West Indies will need to overcome spirited spells like the one Abbas bowled early on day 4

Chasing 304 on a crumbling fifth-day wicket looks a near impossible task for the hosts. But can they survive the whole day and pull off a draw? It will be a tough ask especially against a disciplined Pakistan attack that includes the versatile Yasir Shah, who already bagged Kieran Powell off the last ball of Day 4.

While West Indies have fought through teeth and skin in the series, this might be a tad more difficult job than what they have done thus far. It might be useful to take it ten overs at a time.

Surviving should be the first moto and if they get to tea without losing many, they can always go after the target. But it remains to be seen how determined this young unit can be.