The West Indies edged closer to a series-levelling victory in the second Test against Pakistan, holding the upper hand at stumps on Day Two. Pakistan, chasing 254 on a deteriorating pitch, ended the day at 76 for 4, still 178 runs short of their target.
The Caribbean side produced their best batting performance of the series earlier in the day, spearheaded by captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored a vital half-century. Brathwaite’s aggressive intent, combined with crucial contributions from the lower order, propelled the West Indies to 244 in their second innings — their first time surpassing 200 runs in the series — and gave them a lead of 253 runs.
Pakistan’s response got off to a dreadful start. Within 16 deliveries, both openers, Shan Masood and Mohammad Hurraira, had been dismissed. Masood fell lbw to Kevin Sinclair after playing for turn that wasn’t there, while Hurraira made the same mistake against Gudakesh Motie, leaving Pakistan at 2 for 2.
Captain Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam attempted to stabilize the innings, cautiously rebuilding and temporarily halting the West Indies’ momentum. Ghulam survived a dropped chance early in his innings but failed to capitalize, skying a delivery from Jomel Warrican to backward point for 19.
Babar is dismissed by Sinclair just before stumps. (AFP/GettyImages)
Just as Babar began to look settled and capable of anchoring Pakistan’s chase, Sinclair delivered what could be the decisive blow. With extra bounce and slight turn, he found Babar’s inside edge, and the ball ricocheted off the pad to short leg. The West Indies’ jubilant celebrations reflected the significance of dismissing Pakistan’s talisman for 31.
At stumps, Pakistan’s nightwatchman Kashif Ali was at the crease alongside Saud Shakeel, who will carry the burden of Pakistan’s hopes into Day Three.
Earlier, Brathwaite had urged his team to play with more aggression, and he led by example, taking the attack to Pakistan’s spinners. He lofted Sajid Khan for a six in just the fifth over and struck consecutive boundaries off Noman Ali’s opening deliveries. His positive approach put the opposition under pressure, ensuring that the West Indies dictated the tempo.
Brathwaite found brief support from debutant Amir Jangoo, who struck a pair of boundaries off Abrar Ahmed to push the lead toward three figures. However, Pakistan’s spinners struck back, with Sajid and Noman combining to derail the West Indies’ innings.
Brathwaite fell for 52, beaten by extra turn from Noman as he advanced down the pitch. Shortly afterwards, Jangoo misjudged a sweep and edged Sajid to slip, leaving the visitors precariously placed.
The West Indies’ lower order, however, refused to capitulate. Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair added 41 valuable runs, frustrating Pakistan with their resilience. Sinclair eventually fell to Sajid for 21, and Imlach departed shortly thereafter for 18. Contributions from Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, and an injured Kemar Roach pushed the total to 244, setting Pakistan a challenging target on a tricky surface.
The match is finely poised, with the West Indies holding the advantage thanks to their disciplined bowling and spirited lower-order contributions. Pakistan will rely heavily on Saud Shakeel and their tailenders to pull off an unlikely chase, while the West Indies will aim to wrap up the innings quickly to secure a series-levelling win.
With two days remaining, the Multan pitch, offering variable bounce and sharp turn, promises more drama as these two sides battle it out for supremacy. Sportsmx
