West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test: West Indies Reach 239/5 on Rain-Hit Day 1 as Justin Greaves Leads Fightback Against Pakistan in 2nd Test
West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test:West Indies recovered from a series of middle-order setbacks to finish the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, on 239/5 in 74 overs. An unbeaten partnership between Justin Greaves (64*) and captain Roston Chase (36*) helped the hosts regain control after Pakistan had chipped away with regular wickets during a rain-affected first day.
Play was interrupted by rain during the opening session, reducing the number of overs possible on Day 1. However, once conditions improved, both teams enjoyed periods of success before West Indies closed the day with momentum.
Greaves and Chase Rescue West Indies
After winning the toss and electing to bat, West Indies made a confident start before Pakistan gradually pulled the innings back through disciplined bowling.
The turning point came when Justin Greaves steadied the innings with two important partnerships. He first combined with wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope before adding an unbeaten 66-run stand with skipper Roston Chase for the sixth wicket.
Greaves remained unbeaten on 64 from 125 deliveries, striking eight boundaries while displaying patience against Pakistan’s spin attack. Chase supported him with an unbeaten 36 from 70 balls, ensuring West Indies avoided further late damage.
Pakistan Bowlers Keep Visitors in the Contest
Pakistan relied heavily on four bowlers throughout the day, with spinners taking on the bulk of the workload as the surface gradually began assisting turn.
Sajid Khan bowled 22 overs and finished the day with figures of 1/55, consistently troubling the batters with his accuracy. Ali Usman also extracted turn from the surface as Pakistan attempted to prevent the hosts from building a commanding first-innings total.
Despite the efforts of the bowlers, Pakistan could not break the growing partnership between Greaves and Chase before fading light ended play.
Brandon King Highlights Importance of Partnerships
“The nets that we had in training were very similar to how the wicket played in the game. That was good preparation for us, and we just tried our best to approach it positive.”
King praised the partnerships built by Shai Hope, Justin Greaves and Roston Chase, saying the team needed a substantial stand after losing wickets.
“Obviously, we needed a big partnership there, and they really came through in the latter part of the day.”
Looking ahead to Day 2, King expressed hope that both unbeaten batters could convert their starts into centuries and push West Indies towards a strong first-innings total.
“Hopefully Justin and Roston can carry it even further, and both of them make hundreds.”
He also noted that there was no fixed target but believed the team should aim for the biggest total possible because the pitch had already started offering assistance to spin bowlers.
Pitch Beginning to Assist Spin
The Queen’s Park Oval surface was expected to deteriorate as the Test progressed. Even on the opening day, signs of turn became increasingly evident, making batting progressively more challenging.
The conditions justified Pakistan’s decision to strengthen their spin resources, while West Indies will now look to capitalise on batting first before the pitch becomes more difficult.
Babar Azam Makes Four Changes
Pakistan entered the match with a significantly changed playing XI after losing the opening Test. Regular captain Shan Masood missed the match due to a finger injury, allowing Abdullah Shafique to return, while two debutants were also handed their first Test caps.
Babar Azam said the conditions influenced Pakistan’s team selection, particularly the inclusion of an additional spinner.
West Indies Continue With Unchanged XI
Captain Roston Chase retained the same combination that won the opening Test, expressing confidence that his side possessed both quality pace and spin options regardless of how the surface behaved.
West Indies are seeking their first Test series victory over Pakistan since 2000 after taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test:Match Summary
| Match | West Indies vs Pakistan, 2nd Test |
|---|---|
| Venue | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad |
| Series | Pakistan Tour of West Indies 2026 |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Day 1 Stumps | West Indies 239/5 (74 overs) |
| Top Scorer | Justin Greaves 64* (125) |
| Second Highest | Roston Chase 36* (70) |
| Current Partnership | 66 runs (6th wicket) |
| Leading Pakistan Bowler | Sajid Khan – 22-2-55-1 |
West Indies Scorecard at Stumps
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Greaves* | 64 | 125 | 8 | 0 | 51.20 |
| Roston Chase* | 36 | 70 | 5 | 0 | 51.43 |
Playing XI
West Indies
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Shai Hope (wk), Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (capt), Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.
Pakistan
Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Salman Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali, Ubaid Shah.
Match Information
| Series | Pakistan Tour of West Indies 2026 |
|---|---|
| Match | 2nd Test |
| Venue | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat. |
| Umpires | Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madanagopal |
| Third Umpire | Alex Wharf |
| Match Referee | Jeff Crowe |
Key Talking Points
- Rain delayed the start and interrupted the opening session before a full afternoon and evening session was completed.
- West Indies ended Day 1 on 239/5 in 74 overs.
- Justin Greaves remained unbeaten on 64 off 125 balls, while captain Roston Chase was unbeaten on 36 off 70 balls.
- The unbroken sixth-wicket partnership between Greaves and Chase was worth 66 runs, the highest stand of the innings.
- Pakistan introduced four changes, including debutants Awais Zafar and Ubaid Shah.
- Shan Masood missed the match due to a finger injury, with Abdullah Shafique returning to the side.
- West Indies fielded an unchanged XI after winning the opening Test.
- The pitch showed signs of assisting spin from Day 1, with Sajid Khan and Ali Usman bowling lengthy spells.
- West Indies are aiming for their first Test series victory over Pakistan since 2000 after taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
What to Expect on Day 2
West Indies will resume on 239/5 with Greaves and Chase aiming to extend their unbeaten partnership and push the total beyond 300, a score that could prove highly competitive on a surface expected to offer increasing assistance to spin.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will look for early breakthroughs with the second new ball still some distance away, hoping to restrict the hosts before beginning what could be a challenging first innings.
Source: Match updates, official commentary and post-day player interviews.
