PORT-OF-SPAIN: A fighting half-century by captain Roston Chase helped West Indies post 344 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan here at the Queen’s Park Oval on Monday.

Resuming their innings from the overnight score of 239-5, with Justin Greaves and Chase at the crease, the hosts added 105 runs to their overnight total before being dismissed for 344 in 105.4 overs.

Greaves and Chase, who dominated Pakistan’s bowling attack in the dying minutes of the opening day by putting together an unbeaten 66 runs, continued to frustrate the tourists by adding 30 more to their crucial stand.

The partnership was eventually broken in the ninth over of the day, with slow left-arm orthodox spinner Ali Usman dismissing Greaves, who top-scored with 73 laced with nine fours.

Following his dismissal, Chase put together a handy 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Kemar Roach until debutant pacer Ubaid Shah cleaned him up in the 95th over of their innings. He remained a notable run-getter for West Indies, making 126-ball 70 with the help of 11 fours.

Roach (19) was then involved in a 19-run stand for the eighth wicket with Shamar Joseph (eight) before both fell to off-spinner Sajid Khan in quick succession, resulting in the home side slipping to 326-9.

Tailenders Jayden Seales (eight) and Jomel Warrican (five not out) further added to Pakistan’s frustration by adding 18 runs, which Sajid claimed by dismissing the former.

Sajid picked up four wickets for 85 runs while Mohammad Ali, Usman and Ubaid claimed two scalps each.

On a rain-shortened first day, Greaves made an unbeaten 64 to keep West Indies afloat.

After a match-winning display with the ball in the first Test last week, Greaves displayed what has now become his trademark ease and composure at the crease in a battling knock.

His only error of judgement came just after reaching the half-century mark when Pakistan captain Babar Azam put down a straightforward chance at leg-slip off Sajid.

Greaves at that time was almost hobbling after a left leg injury sustained while completing a sharp run that necessitated lengthy treatment on the field.

His partnership with Chase (36 not out) was worth 66 runs at the close of play.

Greaves had come to the crease in mid-afternoon at 91 for three as Kavem Hodge became Sajid’s first wicket. When Amir Jangoo fell to a leg-side catch to give Ubaid his first Test wicket with the first ball of a new spell, Pakistan sensed the chance to break the back of the West Indies resistance.

However, Greaves and Shai Hope provided a measure of stability in a 53-run stand until seamer Mohammad Ali, the most impressive of the bowlers on the day, bowled Hope off the inside-edge for 29 to leave the innings in the balance at 173 for five.

ABBAS’ BEWILDERING OMISSION

Earlier, Pakistan’s bewildering decision-making – on and off the field – highlighted a rain-affected morning session.

Mohammad Abbas, the tourists’ best bowler by some distance from the 90-run defeat in the first Test, was dropped despite a match haul of eight for 85, including five for 22 in the second innings.

A second Pakistani debutant, Awais Zafar, got his chance due to the finger injury sustained by former captain Shan Masood while compiling a determined century in the first Test.

Pakistan’s think-tank seemed convinced of the wisdom of playing an additional slow bowler on a surface devoid of grass, drafting in Sajid as an off-spinning option alongside Ali Usman, who went wicketless on debut in the first Test.

Sajid’s first notable act in the match was to take the catch at long-leg which sent Tagenarine Chanderpaul to the pavilion for 15 as he failed to control a hook shot off Mohammad Ali after a brisk opening stand of 49 with Brandon King.

As easily as the runs flowed, especially off King’s bat, in the early exchanges after Chase opted to bat first, both could have been dismissed earlier with more attacking tactics as they each benefited from edges at catchable height through the vacant third slip position.

Mohammad Ali was even pleading with Babar for additional support in the slip cordon following the third of those fortunate escapes.

King’s luck ran out though following the 90-minute rain break as Usman snared him for his first Test wicket, leg-before for 46.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 239-5):

T. Chanderpaul c Sajid b Ali 15

B. King lbw b Usman 46

K. Hodge c Rizwan b Sajid 10

A. Jangoo c Rizwan b Ubaid 26

S. Hope b Ali 29

J. Greaves c Awais b Usman 73

R. Chase b Ubaid 70

K. Roach lbw b Sajid 19

S. Joseph c&b Sajid 8

J. Warrican not out 5

J. Seales c Babar b Sajid 8

EXTRAS (B-12, LB-21, W-2) 35

TOTAL (all out, 105.4 overs) 344

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-49 (Chanderpaul), 2-65 (King), 3-91 (Hodge), 4-120 (Jangoo), 5-173 (Hope), 6-269 (Greaves), 7-304 (Chase), 8-323 (Joseph), 9-326 (Roach)

BOWLING: Ali 22-6-67-2 (1w), Ubaid 14-1-66-2 (1w), Usman 35-9-80-2, Sajid 32.4-4-85-4, Salman 2-0-13-0

PAKISTAN: Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Ali

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026