Dharuba: Shaun Masood and Imam-ul-Haq scored fifties to fool the West Indies bowlers as Pakistan posted 199-3 at the close of play on the second day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Sunday.
The visitors will resume their first innings on day three with Shaun unbeaten on 88 off 137 balls, including 11 fours, trailing by 112 runs. At the other end, Salman Ali Agha was on a nine-ball zero.
Pakistan’s reply got off to a poor start when opener Azan Awais was clean bowled by Kher Roach for a duck in the 9th ball. Roach produced an excellent straight delivery that crashed into the stumps.
The visitors responded well as Imam-ul-Haq and Shaun Masood put on a fluent 95 for the second wicket.
Masood kept the pressure off by finding boundaries while Imam provided solid support at the other end as the pair helped Pakistan regain control of the innings.
Masood, a left-hander, was instrumental in Pakistan’s fightback as he combined with Imam to deceive the West Indies bowling as he brought up his 15th Test half-century.
After the tea break, Imam and Shan continued to pile on the runs, extending their partnership beyond 100 when Imam reached his 11th Test half-century.
The pair continued to dominate the bowlers, taking Pakistan’s total and their second wicket stand past 150, putting the West Indies under sustained pressure with a series of well-timed fours.
However, the 155-run partnership was broken when Shamar dismissed Joseph Imam for 63 off 102 balls, an innings with 7 fours, as Pakistan were bowled out for 156-2 in 33.3 overs.
Returning skipper Babar Azam, along with Shane, settled confidently at the crease as the pair added 41 runs to keep the scoreboard ticking as Pakistan looked to wipe out the first innings deficit.
In the end, Jayden Seals dismissed Babur after scoring 23 runs off 38 balls, including three fours, reducing Pakistan to 197-3 in 46 overs.
Earlier, West Indies, batting first, were bowled out for 311 in 98.5 overs in their first innings thanks to a battle of half-centuries from Kevlan Hodge and wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope.
However, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Ali dashed their hopes of posting a better total with a brilliant 4-wicket haul.
Hope scored a fluent 92 off 182 balls with 6 fours and a six, while Hodge scored 84 off 183 balls including 9 fours.
Shamar Joseph scored 23 runs off 13 balls with 4 fours and a six. Openers Dagenerine Chanderpal and Amir Jangoo scored 21 runs each and Brandon King scored 12 runs off 29 balls with a boundary.
Justin Greaves scored 15 runs off 31 balls with 3 fours while captain Roston Chase added 10 runs off 19 balls including 2 fours.
Ali did well with figures of 4/50 in 21.5 overs. Mohammad Abbas 3/65, Khurram Shahjad took 2 wickets, Amir Jamal picked up a wicket as Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack kept the West Indies batting line under constant pressure.