Pakistan enjoyed a productive second day in the ongoing second Test at Port of Spain, finishing at 266 for 2. The day was defined by a commanding, unbroken 168-run stand for the third wicket between Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam. Shafique, who replaced Shan Masood in the lineup, reached an unbeaten 107 by stumps, while Babar Azam remained firm on 86 not out. Pakistan now trails the West Indies by 78 runs with eight wickets remaining.
The visitors began their innings positively through Azan Awais and Imam-ul-Haq, but the West Indies fought back to claim two wickets before the tea break. Shamar Joseph dismissed Imam with a sharp, rising delivery, and Jomel Warrican accounted for Awais, who had contributed an enterprising 55. With the score at 139 for 2, the hosts sensed an opening, but Shafique and Babar effectively neutralized the threat with a disciplined and composed partnership that balanced defensive caution with consistent scoring.
Batting conditions improved as the pitch flattened, and the West Indies struggled to replicate the spin assistance Pakistan had utilized earlier. The hosts’ bowling depth was further compromised by a leg injury to Justin Greaves, which prevented him from bowling and forced the side to rely on Warrican, Joseph, and part-time spin from Roston Chase and Kavem Hodge. The Pakistani pair capitalized on this, rotating the strike with ease and punishing any loose deliveries.
The final session was dominated by the visitors, as Babar found his rhythm with a series of crisp drives, flicks, and back-foot punches to record his 33rd Test fifty. Shafique matched his partner’s intensity, eventually reaching his sixth Test century—his first outside the subcontinent and his first against the West Indies—with a pull shot off Warrican. This partnership marked Pakistan’s first 150-plus third-wicket stand outside Asia since 2006, when Mohammad Hafeez and Yousuf Youhana combined for 177 at The Oval.
Earlier in the day, the West Indies resumed at 239 for 5 and extended their first-innings total to 344. Ali Usman provided an immediate breakthrough by removing Greaves for 73, while Ubaid Shah dismissed the well-set captain Roston Chase for 70. Despite stubborn resistance from Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph, and Jayden Seales, Sajid Khan cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 4 for 85. Usman claimed 2 for 80, as the spinners successfully shouldered the workload to restrict the hosts.
Brief scores: West Indies 344 (Justin Greaves 73, Roston Chase 70, Brandon King 46; Sajid Khan 4-85) lead Pakistan 266/2 (Abdullah Shafique 107*, Babar Azam 86*, Azan Awais 55*; Shamar Joseph 1-58) by 78 runs.
Pakistan had one of their better batting days in recent times, led by Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam’s unbroken 168-run stand for the third wicket, as they moved to 266 for 2 at Stumps on Day 2 of the second Test in Po
Ali Usman provided the early breakthrough when Greaves, who had added only nine runs to his overnight score of 64, sliced an attempted drive to point for 73.
Pakistan then chipped away regularly, with Ubaid Shah removing the well-set Roston Chase for 70 after the West Indies captain had added a gritty half-century and shared a valuable 96-run stand with Greaves.
Both Shafique and Babar were quick to put away the loose deliveries and rotated strike comfortably.
The duo crossed the three-figure partnership with minimal fuss, repeatedly frustrating West Indies with their judgment outside off stump and ability to cash in whenever the bowlers erred in length.
The hosts’ only opportunities came through a couple of missed run-out chances and half-chances in the field, none of which were converted.
Kemar Roach resisted for 19 in a stubborn stand with Chase, while Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales chipped in with useful runs to help West Indies add 105 in the morning session.
Sajid Khan, however, ensured the lower order did not wag for too long, trapping Roach lbw before dismissing Shamar Joseph and eventually wrapping up the innings by having Seales caught at slip to finish with 4 for 85.
