West Indian batsmen Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite scored half-centuries to tune up in style for the three-match Test series against Pakistan with the tourists reaching 174-2 in a tour match in Sharjah Saturday. Bravo was unbeaten on 73 while Brathwaite made 55 as the duo added 82 runs for the second wicket on the second day in reply to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Patron's XI first innings total of 308 all out. The day-night practice game is being played with a pink ball to give the West Indies preparation for the first Test, a day-night affair starting in Dubai from October 13. Earlier, the Patron's XI added 67 runs to its overnight score of 241-5 with Adnan Akmal scoring 69. Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finished with 5-107 and paceman Jason Holder took 3-38. West Indies lost Leon Johnson for 11 before Bravo and Brathwaite defied the attack. Bravo hit 12 attractive boundaries and two sixes while Brathwaite's knock had four boundaries.At the close Shai Hope was unbeaten on 24 and West Indies trailed by 134 runs. For the Patron's XI paceman Ahmed Jamal and leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed took a wicket apiece. Bishoo happy with pink West Indian leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo says the novelty of using a pink ball can help bamboozle Pakistan's batsmen when the teams meet in Asia's first day/night Test in Dubai from Thursday. "The feedback I got from the batsmen was that they were finding it difficult to pick," said Bishoo of the pink ball. However, he added: "It was not spinning because the pitch was a bit flat and slow. You have to bowl with pace. It gets discolored but it's not different from the red or white ball." Bishoo, who will lead a West Indies spin attack which also includes off-spinner Roston Chase and left-armer Jomel Warrican, knows he faces a heavy workload against a Pakistan team which is traditionally comfortable against spin. "Batsmen in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka are good so as a spinner you have to bowl at the right area and do the right things. I am ready for that and if you bowl good spin, you get rewards. "I am just looking for a good series," said Bishoo, who made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2011 — senior batsman Misbah was his first victim.
