(CNW) Justin Greaves and captain Roston Chase produced a composed, unbeaten partnership to wrest back control for the West Indies after Pakistan threatened to dominate the opening day of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.
After the hosts slipped to a vulnerable 173 for five during the final session, Greaves and Chase combined in an unbroken 66-run stand that carried the West Indies to 239 for five from 74 overs at stumps, leaving the contest finely poised.
Greaves will resume on an assured 64 not out, while Chase remains unbeaten on 36 after the pair successfully blunted Pakistan’s attack during the closing stages.
Bright start undone before lunch
Having elected to bat first for the second consecutive Test, the West Indies made a confident beginning despite a 15-minute rain delay that pushed back the start of play.
Openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Brandon King attacked positively, putting together an entertaining 49-run opening stand at more than five runs per over.
Just as the home side looked set to enter the lunch interval unscathed, Chanderpaul handed Pakistan an opening by hooking Mohammad Ali straight to Sajid Khan at deep fine leg off the final delivery before the break.
Pakistan’s spinners seize the initiative
When play resumed at 12:40 p.m., King continued confidently and appeared destined for a half-century before Pakistan’s debutant spinner Ali Usman produced the breakthrough.
Initially adjudged not out after being struck on the pads, King was dismissed for 46 when Pakistan successfully reviewed the decision, with replays confirming the ball would have crashed into middle stump.
As the surface increasingly favored spin, Pakistan tightened its grip.
Sajid Khan and Usman worked in tandem to apply relentless pressure, with Kavem Hodge departing for 10 after a review detected a faint edge to the wicketkeeper, while Amir Jangoo’s brisk 26, featuring three boundaries, ended when he edged debutant fast bowler Ubaid Shah behind the wicket.
At 120 for four, the momentum had shifted firmly in Pakistan’s favor.
Greaves capitalizes after early reprieve
Greaves began rebuilding alongside Shai Hope, adding a valuable 53 runs for the fifth wicket to steady the innings.
The all-rounder enjoyed a slice of fortune when Babar Azam spilled a sharp chance at cover after Greaves had reached 22, a costly miss that allowed him to anchor the innings.
Pakistan eventually struck again when Mohammad Ali dismissed Hope for 29, bowling him via an inside edge to leave the West Indies wobbling at 173 for five.
Captain and vice-captain answer the call
With Pakistan sensing an opportunity to expose the lower order, Chase joined Greaves and the pair responded with patience and discipline.
They frustrated the visitors for the remainder of the day, rotating the strike effectively while punishing loose deliveries to deny Pakistan further breakthroughs.
Greaves reached his second Test half-century in style, clipping Sajid Khan behind square for two to bring up the milestone from just 92 deliveries.
By the close, the right-hander had compiled an unbeaten 64 from 125 balls, decorated with eight boundaries, while Chase had faced 70 deliveries for his unbeaten 36, striking five fours in a determined captain’s innings.
Their partnership ensured the West Indies finished the opening day on level terms, setting the stage for a pivotal second morning in Trinidad. (caribbeannationalweekly.com)
