Abdullah Shafique struck his sixth Test century and Babar Azam closed in on a hundred as Pakistan reached 266-2 in reply to West Indies' 344 on day two of the second Test in Trinidad on Monday. Shafique ended the day unbeaten on 107 off 185 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, while Babar remained unbowed on 86, having faced 126 deliveries with 10 fours and one six. The pair forged an unbroken third-wicket stand of 168 runs, dominating the West Indies' attack.
Shafique, who flew into the Caribbean as an emergency replacement, looked composed in the unfamiliar position of number three. His innings was a stark contrast to Pakistan's batting woes in the first Test, where they collapsed to 71 for nine. Babar, who faced criticism for his leadership, showcased his batting prowess, guiding Shafique and ensuring Pakistan's strong position.
Earlier, West Indies extended their first innings by 109 runs but found themselves overshadowed by Pakistan's top-order. All-rounder Justin Greaves and captain Roston Chase added 96 runs for the sixth wicket before Pakistan's bowlers struck back. Fast-medium bowler Ubaid Shah dismissed Chase for 70, and off-spinner Sajid Khan claimed the last three wickets, finishing with four for 85.
The excellence of Shafique and Babar's strokeplay was praised by Pakistan's batting coach, Asad Shafique. "Their partnership has been quite remarkable and that's just the thing we have been missing in the last two-three Test matches," he said. "Abdullah has been scoring heavily in domestic competition and he has taken this opportunity with both hands."
With the West Indies hampered by injuries to key players, Pakistan capitalized on the ideal batting conditions and pleasant weather to gather runs in style. The tourists' performance was a significant improvement from their previous encounter, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the second Test.
