West Indies ended Day 2 at the Sabina Park slightly ahead of Pakistan. They lead by 34, and with two wickets in hand, they will hope to increase the margin. Pakistan, on the other hand, did pick up wickets regularly, barring a phase when Kraigg Brathwaite (97) forged a partnership of 96 with his predecessor Jason Holder (58).
Brathwaite and Roston Chase started the day on 2/2. Hasan Ali dismissed Chase for 21, but Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood took West Indies to 100. Then Shaheen Shah Afridi scalped Blackwood and Kyle Mayers with back-to-back deliveries.
There was a chance for Pakistan to wrap up the West Indies innings. They seemed to have trapped Holder leg-before, but Holder survived, and batted sensibly to provide support to Brathwaite who was nearing his fifty.
Brathwaite and Holder negated the threat of Yasir Shah well. Holder finally fell to Faheem Ashraf, while Brathwaite took on Hasan’s arm, attempted a risky second run, and was run out.
The Pakistani bowlers missed the opportunity to close the innings with the second new ball as Joshua Da Silva remained unbeaten on 20.
Da Silva will hope for some batting support from Jomel Warrican and Jayden Seales. A 34-run lead is useful, but the hosts can be hopeful if they can stretch it closer to 100. Pakistan may have a better batting line-up on paper, but West Indies have enough power to halt them.
Kemar Roach, Seales, and Holder will be their main weapons to trouble the Pakistani batters. They did that in the first innings. Warrican should also get more purchase from the pitch on Day 3.
Pakistan would like to pick up these last two West Indies wickets as soon as possible in the morning. Mohammad Abbas was their best bowler on Day 2, albeit without much luck. They will again expect him, as well as Hasan and Afridi, to wrap things up quickly.
Pakistan will hope for a better show from their batters in the second innings. The openers, Imran Butt and Abid Ali, need to aim for a longer stay in the middle. A solid opening partnership can make the situation smoother for their middle order.
Babar Azam and Fawad Alam can then take the full benefit of posing a decent target for West Indies in the fourth innings. If they can do that, Yasir may decide the match in the fourth innings.
Betway Fantasy Tips
Babar Azam: On his day, Babar looks like the best batter in the world. He scored 30 in the first innings, and will hope to better that in the second.
Fawad Alam: Fawad scored three centuries in the last year since his return to the Test team after a gap of 11 years. After his 56 in the first innings, he is expected to continue his good show in the second innings.
Jason Holder: Holder followed his three-wicket haul with a fifty. He will be in action with ball once again.