Abdullah Shafique guided Pakistan to within touching distance of erasing the first-innings deficit against the West Indies by Lunch on Day 3 of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday.
At the conclusion of the opening session, the touring side were 333-6 in 95 overs, trailing by only 11 runs, with returning top-order batter Shafique and No 8 Sajid Khan unbeaten on 132 and 16, respectively.
Pakistan resumed their response from 266-6 through captain Babar Azam and Shafique at the commencement of the ongoing third day, but the pair failed to extend their dominance over the West Indies’ bowling attack and could add 25 more to their overnight partnership.
The crucial stand had an abrupt end as a mix-up between Babar and Shafique, followed by a direct hit from Brandon King, in just the ninth over of the day, saw the end of the Pakistan captain, who walked back after scoring 88 off 147 deliveries, comprising 10 fours and a six.
Pakistan then suffered two more setbacks in quick succession as debutant Awais Zafar and batting all-rounder Salman Ali Agha fell victim to Jomel Warrican and Shamar Joseph in the span of just six deliveries, resulting in the touring side slipping to 286-5.
Following the back-to-back setbacks, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan joined mainstay Shafique in the middle, and the duo helped Pakistan breach the 300-run barrier by putting together a 25-run partnership, which culminated with the former being cleaned up by Warrican after scoring 18.
Shafique then joined forces with No 8 Sajid and the duo knitted an unbeaten 22-run partnership at a brisk pace until the on-field umpires flicked the bails off to declare the end of the opening session.
Warrican has been the standout bowler for West Indies in the first innings, having taken three wickets for 103 runs in 39 overs, followed by Joseph, who bagged two for 68 in 13 overs.
