Pakistan seize control as spinners leave West Indies reeling in second Test
TRINIDAD: Pakistan tightened their grip on the second Test against West Indies after their spinners ripped through the hosts’ batting line-up late on day three, leaving West Indies struggling at 103-6 in their second innings with a lead of just 60 runs.
The match swung dramatically over the course of the day. West Indies had appeared to regain the upper hand after triggering a Pakistan batting collapse, but Sajid Khan and Ali Usman turned the contest back in the visitors’ favour with a relentless display of spin bowling on a deteriorating surface.
Pakistan resumed with Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam well set but lost momentum when Babar was run out for 88 after a sharp direct hit from Brandon King. Jomel Warrican then sparked a collapse, dismissing Azan Awais, Mohammad Rizwan and the lower order to finish with figures of 6-85.
Shafique stood firm amid the collapse, compiling a superb 157 before Pakistan were bowled out for 387, securing a valuable first-innings lead of 43.
West Indies began their second innings positively, erasing the deficit through their opening partnership before Pakistan’s spinners transformed the game.
Sajid struck first by trapping Tagenarine Chanderpaul lbw before producing a superb delivery to bowl Amir Jangoo. Ali Usman then removed Kavem Hodge with a straight ball that beat his attempted flick, tightening Pakistan’s grip.
Shai Hope and captain Roston Chase briefly resisted, but Sajid dismissed Hope lbw before removing nightwatchman Jayden Seales two balls later. Ali Usman completed the visitors’ dominant finish by catching and bowling Chase with the final delivery of the day.
Earlier, Brandon King suffered a back spasm after his run-out of Babar and did not bat, forcing West Indies to reshuffle their batting order.
With only Justin Greaves remaining from the recognised batters and the pitch offering increasing assistance to the spinners, Pakistan will head into the fourth day as clear favourites to level the two-Test series.
