A crucial fifth-wicket stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan helped stall a push by the West Indies on Saturday’s rain-affected third day of an evenly balanced first Betway Test against Pakistan at Sabina Park.

At the close of play, Pakistan were 160-5, a lead of 124 with five second-innings intact.

West Indies, 251-8 overnight were bowled out for 253 as Shaheen Afridi quickly wrapped up the innings bowling Jomel Warrican for 1 and then in his next over, trapping Joshua Da Silva lbw for 41. Afridi finished with figures for 4-59 from his 21.4 overs.

Needing to erase a 36-run deficit, Pakistan were in early trouble at 65-4 after Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales upended their top order. Seales struck twice in the 26th over, dismissing Abid Ali for 34 and then Fawad Alam, caught behind for a three-ball duck.

Only just 29 in front, Pakistan found a useful partnership between Babar and Rizwan. They out on 56 for the fifth wicket before the latter was caught behind for 30 off the bowling of Jason Holder.

 Babar remained unbeaten on 54 at stumps.

He and Faheem Ashraf (12 not out) have so far put on 39 for the sixth wicket and will be hoping to push Pakistan well past their lead of 124 runs.

Seales has so far taken 2-50. However, Roach was the best of the West Indies bowlers with 2-15 from 15 overs.

Jason Holder has 1-27 from 14 overs.

Meanwhile, Seales was reprimanded for breaching Level 1 ICC Code of Conduct during the opening day of the Test.

During the 70th over of Pakistan’s first innings, Seales used inappropriate language towards Hasan Ali after he had dismissed the batsman. He was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel or specifically “using language, actions or gestures which disparage, or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

Seales pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. However, one demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record.