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Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Barbados: Pakistan reduce West Indies to 72 for 3 before lunch

Keeping the same playing XI from the first Test from Kingston, West Indies opted to bat on a hard surface which was most likely to assist pacers. Pakistan, on the other hand, made one change by handing debut game to Shadab khan instead of pacer Wahab Riaz.

Mohammad Aamer has conceded just 6 runs in 8 overs getting 1 wicket © AFP
Mohammad Aamer has conceded just 6 runs in 8 overs getting 1 wicket © AFP

Pakistan bowlers rattled West Indies top-order, leaving the hosts tottering at 72 for 3 at the end of the first session in the second Test at Barbados. Keeping the same playing XI from the first Test from Kingston, West Indies opted to bat on a hard surface which was most likely to assist pacers. Pakistan, on the other hand, made one change by handing debut game to Shadab Khan instead of pacer Wahab Riaz. For Pakistan Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah picked up a wicket each putting West Indies in a tight position of 37 for 3. But Roston Chase and Kieran Powell displayed great determination towards the end of the session to put up 35 runs for the fourth wicket ensuring no batting collapse. Full Cricket Scorecard: Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test at Barbados

With the new ball in hand, Aamer tormented West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Powell from the very first over. Swinging the ball both ways, Aamer saw Ahmed Shehzad dropping catch at short cover in his second over, but 2 deliveries later Aamer had his man as Brathwaite (9) thick edged an away swinging delivery which wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed collected neatly. Things turned worse for West Indies when Shimron Hetmyer departed 2 deliveries later. Hetmyer (1) attempted to drive away from his body against an away swinging delivery off Abbas which Azhar Ali took sharply at third slip.

Powell and Shai Hope tried battling out against Aamer and Abbas for a prolonged period. Seeing the batting pair being in comfort against pacers, Misbah-ul-Haq got in Yasir Shah from the 11th over of the game hoping to get the ball drifting. But Yasir who kept on tossing the ball saw Powell counterattacking against using his feet and scoring some cracking boundaries. This saw runs coming in easy for the hosts and reducing the pressure as well. But Yasir persisted with tossing the ball up and finally was rewarded as he made Hope (5) edge one to Sarfraz putting hosts in a precarious situation at 37 for 3.

But then Chase who had been in an excellent form in the first Test along with Powell produced dead bat against the wily spinning duo of Yasir and Shadab. Not only they stopped the fall of wickets but also scored 35 runs for the fourth wicket in 65 deliveries going for lunch at a much better position.

Brief scores:

West Indies 72 for 3 (Kieran Powell 29*, Roston Chase 23*; Mohammad Aamer 1 for 6, Mohammad Abbas 1 for 16, Yasir Shah 1 for 32) vs Pakistan

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