West Indies vs Pakistan 2017, 2nd Test: Day 2, 5 talking points
A 155 run opening stand between Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad took Pakistan to 172/3 and put them in the driving seat on day 2 at Bridgetown after they had shot out West Indies for 312. Ahmed Shahzad and Azhar Ali had coped some heavy criticism for their failures in the first Test but made amends with a solid partnership here.
Earlier, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas once again impressed by dismissing the set batsmen within the first two overs of day 2, with the score still on 286. Neither Jason Holder nor Roston Chase added to their overnight individual scores as Abbas picked up four to finish the West Indian innings at 312.
Shahzad then survived a dropped catch, an LBW off a no-ball and a stumped off a no-ball to reach his half-century while his partner, Azhar Ali, was more fluent. Though Bishoo eventually had Shahzad edging to slips.
Gabriel then picked out Babar Azam for a duck while Younis Khan also departed for a duck after slashing a long hop from Bishoo to short mid-wicket. However, with Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq at the wicket, Pakistan still hold all aces.
Brief Scores: West Indies 312/10 (Chase 131, Holder 58, Abbas 4/56), Pakistan 172/3 (Azhar Ali 81*, Shahzad 70, Bishoo 2/53)
Here are the talking points from day 2 at Bridgetown.
#5 Chase and Holder let down West Indies
After taking the hosts from 154/6 to 286/6 with a superb 132 run stand, West Indies needed Chase and Holder to take them past the 350 or 400 run mark. The bulk of the hard work had been done on day 1 and it was time to capitalise on that as day 2 arrived.
However, a confused Holder half-heartedly left a ball from Abbas that caught the edge to the keeper. Chase didn't last long as well and edged Mohammad Amir to the slips off a tentative prod when he should have ideally left the ball. The quick dismissals put West Indies on the back foot and shot down their total to 312.