Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Ali took four wickets as the West Indies were bowled out for 311 in 98.5 overs during the second session on Day 2 of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Sunday.
After electing to bat, West Indies endured a difficult start on the opening day as Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack kept the scoring under control.
Openers Brandon King and Tagenarine Chanderpaul managed only a 13-run partnership before Mohammad Abbas struck with the second ball of the ninth over, forcing King to chop a wide delivery onto his stumps.
King departed for a scratchy 12 off 29 deliveries, including one boundary.
Kavem Hodge then joined Chanderpaul, but the pair also found scoring difficult, adding just 10 runs from 35 deliveries before rain interrupted play. The second session resumed after an early lunch with West Indies on 23-1 in 14.1 overs.
Hodge gradually settled into his innings and brought up his fourth Test half-century. Alongside Chanderpaul, he added 51 runs for the second wicket, rebuilding the innings through disciplined batting and sensible strike rotation.
Aamer Jamal eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Chanderpaul for 21 off 77 deliveries, including one boundary, leaving West Indies on 64-2 in the 26th over.
Amir Jangoo then batted positively alongside Hodge to take the hosts beyond the 100-run mark. However, Abbas claimed his second wicket by removing Jangoo for 21 off 32 deliveries, an innings featuring two fours and a six.
West Indies reached tea on 127-3 after 43 overs, with Hodge unbeaten on 56 from 100 balls and Shai Hope unbeaten on 11 from 25 deliveries.
The pair continued to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers in the final session, extending their partnership with disciplined batting as the visitors searched for breakthroughs before stumps.
West Indies suffered an early setback when pacer Khurram Shahzad dismissed Hodge, who had compiled a determined 84 off 183 deliveries, including nine boundaries.
Hope and Justin Greaves then steadied the innings with a composed partnership, rotating the strike well to take the hosts comfortably past the 200-run mark.
Hope anchored the innings with a calm and responsible knock, bringing up his seventh Test half-century while holding the innings together through a valuable stand with Greaves.
Pakistan struck again as Mohammad Ali claimed his first wicket of the innings, dismissing Greaves for 15 off 31 deliveries, including three boundaries, to leave West Indies on 231-5 in 79 overs.
Captain Roston Chase’s stay at the crease was brief as Abbas claimed his third wicket of the innings, dismissing the skipper for 10 off 19 deliveries, including two fours.
The hosts suffered another blow when Khurram Shahzad removed Kemar Roach for three off 29 deliveries, reducing West Indies to 274-7 in 92.5 overs.
Shamar Joseph then launched a brisk counter-attack, helping West Indies end the opening session on day two on a positive note despite losing seven wickets.
However, Pakistan struck shortly after lunch as Ali claimed his second wicket of the innings, dismissing Joseph for a brisk 23 off 13 deliveries. His entertaining cameo included four boundaries and a six before West Indies slipped to 304-8 in 96.2 overs.
Hope’s fighting innings also came to an end when Ali struck to claim his third wicket, dismissing the right-hander for a well-made 92 off 182 deliveries, which included six fours and a six.
Ali then completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Jayden Seales for a duck, wrapping up the West Indies innings for 311 in 98.5 overs.
Ali starred with figures of 4/50 from 21.5 overs. Mohammad Abbas claimed three wickets, while Khurram Shahzad took two and Aamer Jamal chipped in with one as Pakistan produced a disciplined bowling performance.
