West Indies closed the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at 239 for 5, with Justin Greaves unbeaten on 64 and Roston Chase batting on 36. Rain and bad light disrupted play at Queen’s Park Oval, but West Indies used a series of partnerships to keep Pakistan’s bowlers out of the game by stumps.
Rain Delays Play After Brisk Start
West Indies chose to bat first and raced to 49 in 9.5 overs before rain forced an early lunch. Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell to the last ball before the break, hooking Mohammad Ali to fine leg for 15. Pakistan left out Mohammad Abbas ahead of the match, a decision captain Babar Azam later put down to conditions at the venue.
Once play resumed, spinners Ali Usman and Sajid Khan took control. Usman had Brandon King lbw for 46 after a review overturned the on-field call, and Sajid removed Kavem Hodge for 10 when a faint edge carried to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Both wickets came through Pakistan reviews. Hodge managed only 10 off 44 balls as he struggled to break free of the spin attack.
Middle Order Absorbs Pressure Through Afternoon
Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo added runs after the two early setbacks, and Hope’s six over cover lifted the scoring rate. Pakistan brought back pace through debutant Ubaid Shah, who struck immediately when Jangoo edged behind for 26. Ubaid finished with figures of 1 for 56 from nine overs. Ali returned later in the day and dismissed Hope for 29, bowled off an inside edge, leaving West Indies at 173 for 5.
That wicket brought Chase to the middle with West Indies still needing support for Greaves. The two batters chose caution over aggression, working the singles and picking off the loose ball. Pakistan’s spin pair kept probing, but the surface offered less turn as the day progressed, and the scoring rate climbed back above three an over.
Greaves and Chase Take West Indies Through to Stumps
Greaves brought up his half-century off 92 balls with seven fours and continued to target the covers whenever Pakistan pitched short of a length. His stand with Chase passed fifty just before the close, unbroken at 66 runs when bad light ended play. Chase reached 36 off 70 balls, and the pair took West Indies from 173 to 239 without further loss.
Pakistan finished the day with Ali the most successful bowler, taking 2 for 49 from 17 overs, while Usman and Sajid picked up one wicket each despite bowling a combined 47 overs. Salman Agha sent down a single over late in the day. West Indies will resume day two with five wickets in hand and a platform built by Greaves and Chase to work from.
The match, the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies, is being played at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. West Indies lead the series and are looking to secure a 2-0 sweep over Pakistan.
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