Pakistan’s Shafique, Azam put WI to the sword

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:

A superb batting display by Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam put Pakistan in firm control of the second Test against West Indies at the close of play on the second day on Monday.

Shafique’s unbeaten 107 off 185 balls, coupled with captain Azam’s 86 not out off 126 balls, powered the visitors to a formidable 266 for two in reply to the West Indies’ total of 344 at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The pair has so far added 168 runs for the third wicket, to put Pakistan on course for a mammoth first innings total and give their side a hefty lead, as they trail by just 78 runs heading into Tuesday’s third day.

INCONSISTENT

The home side’s opening pace attack of Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales was surprisingly inconsistent, with Azan Awais hitting Roach for three consecutive boundaries in the third over of the innings.

Together with partner Imam-ul-Haq, they put on 34 runs inside eight overs, before Shamar Joseph produced a snorter off a good length that hit the top of his bat and ballooned to gully for Jomel Warrican to take an easy catch.

Awais eventually brought up his maiden Test half-century off 61 balls by driving Warrican down to long on for a single.

But it was Warrican who broke their 64-run partnership, with the West Indies needing to review a lbw decision after the batsman was initially given not out, to dismiss him for 55 and leave the score 98 for two.

Azam joined Shafique at the crease, and for the next three hours, they neutralised the home side’s passive bowling attack, which was without the services of first match hero Justin Greaves.

Pakistan went to tea at 139 for two, while scoring at just over four runs an over, and the same continued after the break, with Shafique getting to his seventh Test half-century off 79 balls, with an exquisite straight drive off Roach for four.

Azam followed in the same vein by notching his 33rd half-century, as Pakistan tightened their grip on the contest at 184 for two.

With the close of play looming, Shafique reached his sixth Test century by pulling Warrican to the midwicket boundary, his first time scoring three figures since 2024.

LAST FIVE WICKETS

Earlier, resuming the day on 239 for five, the West Indies’ last five wickets added 104 runs, with spinner Sajid Khan responsible for three of them to fall.

Justin Greaves only added nine runs to his overnight score of 64 before driving a delivery from spinner Ali Usman straight into the hands of point.

Captain Roston Chase reached his 12th Test half-century and added 35 runs with Roach, until he was bowled off his pads by pacer Ubaid Shah for 70 to leave the Windies 304 for seven.

Khan then wrapped up the tail by dismissing Joseph, Roach, and Seales, to end with figures of 4-85, while Shah (2-66), Mohammad Ali (2-67), and Ali Usman (2-80) took two wickets apiece.