Pakistan had one of their better batting days in recent times, led by Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam’s unbroken 168-run stand for the third wicket, as they moved to 266 for 2 at Stumps on Day 2 of the second Test in Port of Spain, having earlier bowled West Indies out for 344. Shafique, coming in as Shan Masood’s replacement for this Test, was unbeaten on 107 while Babar Azam was closing in on a three-figure score, ending the day at 86 not out.
Pakistan had resumed their reply positively through Azan Awais and Imam-ul-Haq after wrapping up the West Indies innings in the morning, but the hosts clawed back with two wickets before Tea. Imam fell to a sharp lifting delivery from Shamar Joseph, while Awais, after striking an enterprising half-century, miscued a sweep against Jomel Warrican. At 139 for 2, West Indies had an opening, but Shafique and Babar quickly shut the door with a composed partnership that balanced caution with regular scoring.
The pair found batting considerably easier as the pitch flattened out and West Indies struggled to extract the same assistance that Pakistan’s spinners had enjoyed earlier in the match. Justin Greaves’ inability to bowl because of a leg injury further reduced the hosts’ options, forcing them to rely heavily on Warrican, Shamar Joseph and part-time spin from Roston Chase and Kavem Hodge. Both Shafique and Babar were quick to put away the loose deliveries and rotated strike comfortably.
The post-tea session belonged entirely to the visitors. Babar settled into his familiar rhythm, unfurling crisp back-foot punches, drives and flicks to bring up his 33rd Test fifty, while Shafique matched him stroke for stroke at the other end. The duo crossed the three-figure partnership with minimal fuss, repeatedly frustrating West Indies with their judgment outside off stump and ability to cash in whenever the bowlers erred in length. The hosts’ only opportunities came through a couple of missed run-out chances and half-chances in the field, none of which were converted.
Shafique completed a near-flawless hundred, reaching his sixth Test century – his third away from home, first outside the subcontinent and first against West Indies – with a pull off Warrican. By Stumps, his unbroken 168-run stand with Babar had grown into Pakistan’s first 150-plus third-wicket partnership outside Asia since Mohammad Hafeez and Yousuf Youhana added 177 at The Oval in 2006, leaving the visitors just 78 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.
Earlier, West Indies began the day at 239 for 5 and managed to stretch their first-innings total to 344 despite Pakistan striking with the second new ball. Ali Usman provided the early breakthrough when Greaves, who had added only nine runs to his overnight score of 64, sliced an attempted drive to point for 73. Pakistan then chipped away regularly, with Ubaid Shah removing the well-set Roston Chase for 70 after the West Indies captain had added a gritty half-century and shared a valuable 96-run stand with Greaves.
Kemar Roach resisted for 19 in a stubborn stand with Chase, while Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales chipped in with useful runs to help West Indies add 105 in the morning session. Sajid Khan, however, ensured the lower order did not wag for too long, trapping Roach lbw before dismissing Shamar Joseph and eventually wrapping up the innings by having Seales caught at slip to finish with 4 for 85. Ali Usman claimed 2 for 80, as Pakistan’s spinners shared six wickets between them after shouldering the bulk of the bowling workload.
Brief scores: West Indies 344 (Justin Greaves 73, Roston Chase 70, Brandon King 46; Sajid Khan 4-85) lead Pakistan 266/2 (Abdullah Shafique 107*, Babar Azam 86*, Azan Awais 55*; Shamar Joseph 1-58) by 78 runs.
