West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test:Pakistan Fight Back Through Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam After West Indies Post 344 on Day 2 of Port of Spain Test
West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test:Pakistan ended the second day of the second Test against West Indies in a commanding position after an unbeaten century from Abdullah Shafique and a fluent innings from captain Babar Azam erased much of the hosts’ first-innings advantage at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
After dismissing West Indies for 344 during the opening session, Pakistan responded with disciplined batting to reach 266/2 at stumps, leaving themselves just 78 runs behind with eight wickets still in hand. The unbroken third-wicket partnership between Shafique and Babar shifted the momentum firmly towards the visitors after an even contest during the first innings.
West Indies Stretch First Innings to 344
Resuming Day 2 at 239/5, West Indies focused on extending their innings and making full use of the second new ball. Although Pakistan struck early in the morning session, the lower order continued to frustrate the bowlers with valuable contributions that pushed the total beyond the 340-run mark.
Justin Greaves, who had carried his overnight score into the second day, added only a few more runs before becoming Pakistan’s first breakthrough of the morning. His innings of 73 had already laid an important platform and remained the highest individual score for the hosts.
Captain Roston Chase then assumed responsibility, batting patiently despite regular wickets falling at the opposite end. His knock of 70 proved crucial in steering West Indies closer to a competitive first-innings total before Pakistan eventually wrapped up the innings shortly before lunch.
Middle Order Provides Stability
West Indies’ innings was built through contributions across the batting order rather than a single dominant partnership. Brandon King provided early momentum with an attacking 46, striking nine boundaries before becoming the first wicket for left-arm spinner Ali Usman.
Amir Jangoo added 26 during a useful middle-order stand, while wicketkeeper Shai Hope contributed 29 before Mohammad Ali produced a breakthrough by bowling him through the gate.
The innings gathered real momentum through Greaves and Chase, whose composed approach helped West Indies recover after losing wickets at regular intervals during the opening day. Their partnership carried the innings beyond the 250-run mark and placed pressure back on Pakistan before the visitors responded strongly with the second new ball.
West Indies First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Greaves | 73 | 150 | 9 | 0 |
| Roston Chase (c) | 70 | 126 | 11 | 0 |
| Brandon King | 46 | 50 | 9 | 0 |
| Shai Hope | 29 | 68 | 3 | 1 |
| Amir Jangoo | 26 | 55 | 3 | 0 |
| Others | 65 | – | – | – |
| Extras | 35 | (12b, 21lb, 2w) | ||
| Total | 344 all out | 105.4 overs | Run Rate: 3.25 | |
Morning Session Belonged to Pakistan’s Spin Attack
Pakistan’s spinners gradually tightened their grip as the pitch continued to offer assistance. Rather than allowing West Indies to accelerate freely, they consistently attacked the stumps and forced the batters into defensive strokes.
The visitors found success by maintaining disciplined lengths throughout the morning. Most of their breakthroughs came from deliveries pitched in the good-length area, where both turn and variable bounce created constant uncertainty for the West Indies batters.
- West Indies resumed Day 2 at 239/5.
- The hosts added 105 runs during the morning session.
- The innings ended at 344 shortly before lunch.
- Pakistan’s spin combination accounted for the majority of wickets.
- The total became West Indies’ highest Test innings against Pakistan at home since 2005.
Pakistan Bowlers Finish Strong After West Indies Threaten Bigger Total
Pakistan’s attack showed impressive discipline once the second new ball became available. After West Indies looked set to push well beyond 350, the visitors tightened their lines and claimed the final five wickets for just 75 runs, preventing the hosts from building an even stronger first-innings advantage.
The turnaround came through a combination of accurate spin bowling and timely support from the pace attack. Rather than chasing wickets with extravagant deliveries, Pakistan relied on patience, forcing the batters into mistakes as the surface began offering increasing assistance.
Sajid Khan Leads the Charge With Four Wickets
Off-spinner Sajid Khan emerged as Pakistan’s most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4 for 85 from 32.4 overs. Bowling long spells from one end, he consistently challenged both edges of the bat while making excellent use of the rough created outside the right-handers’ off stump.
His spell proved decisive during the final phase of the innings, where he removed Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales in quick succession after earlier dismissing Kavem Hodge.
The performance also marked Pakistan’s best first-innings figures by a spinner in a Test match in the West Indies since Saeed Ajmal’s five-wicket haul at Providence in 2011.
Ali Usman Impresses on Test Debut
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman continued an encouraging debut by claiming two significant wickets while maintaining excellent control throughout a marathon spell.
He struck first by trapping Brandon King leg before wicket after Pakistan successfully reviewed the on-field decision. Later, with the second new ball in hand, he removed Justin Greaves, whose dismissal ended the most productive innings for West Indies.
Ali Usman completed the innings with figures of 2 for 80 from 35 overs, conceding runs at an economy rate of just 2.28.
Pacers Deliver Timely Breakthroughs
Although spin dominated much of the innings, Pakistan’s fast bowlers also played important roles.
Mohammad Ali struck twice, dismissing opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul before later bowling Shai Hope with a delivery that breached the defensive shot and clipped the top of off stump.
Young fast bowler Ubaid Shah added two valuable wickets of his own. He earned his maiden Test wicket by removing Amir Jangoo before producing another crucial breakthrough when he bowled West Indies captain Roston Chase for 70, ending the innings’ most resilient partnership.
Pakistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sajid Khan | 32.4 | 85 | 4 | 2.60 |
| Ali Usman | 35 | 80 | 2 | 2.28 |
| Mohammad Ali | 22 | 67 | 2 | 3.04 |
| Ubaid Shah | 14 | 66 | 2 | 4.71 |
| Salman Agha | 2 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 |
How the Final Wickets Fell
- 269/6: Justin Greaves caught off Ali Usman for 73.
- 304/7: Roston Chase bowled by Ubaid Shah after scoring 70.
- 323/8: Shamar Joseph caught and bowled by Sajid Khan.
- 326/9: Kemar Roach trapped lbw by Sajid Khan after a successful DRS review.
- 344 all out: Jayden Seales caught at slip off Sajid Khan, completing the spinner’s four-wicket haul.
West Indies Miss Opportunity to Reach 350
Despite receiving useful lower-order resistance, West Indies were unable to capitalize fully after crossing the 300-run mark. Pakistan’s disciplined finish ensured the innings ended at 344, a competitive total but one that left the contest evenly balanced heading into the visitors’ reply.
With lunch taken immediately after the innings concluded, Pakistan walked out to bat knowing a solid opening session in their first innings could significantly alter the direction of the Test match.
Pakistan Open Positively in Reply to West Indies’ First-Innings Total
Pakistan’s response began with clear intent as the opening pair looked to erase the early pressure created by West Indies’ total of 344. Rather than adopting an ultra-defensive approach, the visitors rotated the strike consistently and punished loose deliveries, ensuring the scoreboard kept moving throughout the opening session.
West Indies tried to exploit the fresh ball with Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph operating in tandem, but Pakistan’s batters remained composed against the new-ball movement. The visitors reached their first fifty inside 12 overs and laid a platform that prevented the hosts from dominating with the ball.
West Indies Strike Twice Before Lunch
The breakthrough came when Shamar Joseph extracted extra bounce to dismiss Imam-ul-Haq. Attempting to deal with a rising delivery, the left-hander could only glove the ball towards the gully region, ending his innings for 14.
Pakistan’s second wicket arrived after Azan Awais had played one of the finest knocks of his young Test career. The opener looked comfortable against both pace and spin, driving confidently through the off side while keeping the scoreboard ticking with regular boundaries.
His innings ended on 55 after West Indies successfully overturned the on-field decision through the Decision Review System. Jomel Warrican trapped him in front of the stumps, giving the hosts an important breakthrough just as Pakistan approached the 100-run mark.
Azan Awais Provides the Early Foundation
The opening batter attacked whenever scoring opportunities appeared, reaching his half-century from just 61 deliveries. His innings featured ten boundaries and helped Pakistan recover quickly after losing Imam-ul-Haq.
Although his stay ended before tea, the platform he created allowed Pakistan’s middle order to build without immediate scoreboard pressure.
| Pakistan Top Order | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azan Awais | 55 | 71 | 10 | 0 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 14 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
Abdullah Shafique Anchors Pakistan’s Recovery
After the fall of two wickets, Abdullah Shafique settled into the anchor’s role with remarkable patience. He blended solid defence with controlled strokeplay, refusing to offer West Indies any opportunities despite the bowlers maintaining disciplined lines.
The right-hander gradually accelerated as the innings progressed. He reached his half-century from 79 balls before converting it into a century off 173 deliveries, bringing up the landmark with ten fours and two sixes.
By stumps, Shafique remained unbeaten on 107, giving Pakistan complete control of the chase for the first-innings lead.
Babar Azam Complements Shafique With Unbeaten Knock
Captain Babar Azam looked equally assured after arriving at the crease. He quickly found rhythm against both spin and pace, rotating the strike efficiently while punishing anything overpitched.
His fifty came from 67 balls before he continued to build the partnership with measured aggression. The experienced batter closed the day unbeaten on 86, striking ten boundaries and one six during a composed innings.
Together, Babar and Shafique ensured West Indies went wicketless throughout the entire final session, steadily reducing the deficit with every passing over.
Unbroken Third-Wicket Stand Changes the Match
The defining feature of Pakistan’s innings was the unbeaten partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam. After the score stood at 98 for 2, the pair combined excellent judgement outside off stump with disciplined shot selection to deny West Indies any further breakthroughs.
The partnership crossed three important milestones during the evening:
- 50-run stand from 84 deliveries.
- 100-run partnership from 139 deliveries.
- 150-run partnership from 230 deliveries.
By the close of play, Pakistan had reached 266/2 in 66 overs, trailing West Indies by only 78 runs with eight wickets still available, leaving the visitors well placed heading into Day 3.
Pakistan’s Day Two Batting Dominance Reflected in the Match Statistics
While West Indies had the better of the opening day after reaching 239 for 5, the balance shifted considerably on Day 2. Pakistan not only wrapped up the remaining five wickets efficiently but also produced their most assured batting display of the series, finishing the day within touching distance of the first-innings lead.
The visitors scored at a healthy run rate of 4.03 an over, ensuring the pressure remained on the home side despite the quality shown by the West Indies bowling attack.
| Match Summary After Day 2 | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| Match | 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of West Indies 2026 |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| West Indies 1st Innings | 344 all out (105.4 overs) |
| Pakistan 1st Innings | 266/2 (66 overs) |
| Trail | Pakistan trail by 78 runs |
| Batters at Stumps | Abdullah Shafique 107*, Babar Azam 86* |
Key Milestones From Day 2
- Abdullah Shafique completed an unbeaten century.
- Babar Azam remained unbeaten after scoring 86.
- Azan Awais registered a well-compiled half-century.
- Sajid Khan claimed four wickets in West Indies’ first innings.
- Ali Usman picked up the first two Test wickets of his career.
- Pakistan closed the day just 78 runs behind with eight wickets remaining.
- The unbeaten third-wicket partnership guided Pakistan through the final session without losing a wicket.
Pakistan Hold the Advantage Heading Into Day 3
The momentum now rests with Pakistan after a disciplined all-round performance. Having limited West Indies to 344 despite strong contributions from Justin Greaves and Roston Chase, the visitors answered with a composed batting effort led by Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam.
The pair will resume on Day 3 aiming to erase the remaining deficit and build a sizeable first-innings lead. With Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and several capable lower-order batters still to come, Pakistan have an opportunity to put West Indies under sustained scoreboard pressure.
For the hosts, early breakthroughs with the second new ball will be crucial. Breaking the partnership quickly could pull them back into the contest, but another extended stand would leave Pakistan firmly in command of the Test.
Score Snapshot
| Team | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 344 all out | 105.4 overs |
| Pakistan | 266/2 | 66 overs |
| Match Position | Pakistan trail by 78 runs at stumps on Day 2. | |
What to Watch on Day 3
- Can Abdullah Shafique convert his century into a match-defining innings?
- Will Babar Azam complete another Test hundred?
- How quickly can Pakistan secure the first-innings lead?
- Can West Indies’ bowlers produce an early breakthrough with the overnight pair at the crease?
- Will Pakistan build enough of a lead to dictate the remainder of the Test?
After two days of absorbing Test cricket, the second Test at Port of Spain remains finely poised. However, Pakistan’s strong finish with both ball and bat has placed the visitors in the stronger position as the match moves into a potentially decisive third day.
