West Indies hold upper hand as Pakistan lose four in 254 chase

Pakistan face an uphill task to win the second Test, and clinch the series 2-0, against the West Indies as they lost four wickets at stumps on the second day chasing 254 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan's top-order stuttered for the second successive time on its own engineered spin wicket and limped to 76-4 at stumps on Day 2.

After securing a slender nine runs first innings lead, the West Indies delivered a much-improved performance in their second outing, posting 244 all-out in two sessions.

Pakistan's left-arm spinner Noman Ali followed up his six for 41 in the first innings with four for 80 in the second as 14 wickets fell on the day for 320 runs.

Noman's scalps included West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who top-scored with 52 from 74 balls including four fours and two sixes.

After Noman spun out the top order, off-spinner Sajid Khan cleaned up the lower middle order, snapping up 4 for 76 after taking 2 for 64 in the first innings. Sajid's second-innings victims included Amir Jangoo (30), Kevin Sinclair (28), Gudakesh Motie (18), and Jomel Warrican (18).

Tevin Imlach (L) watches the ball after playing a shot during the second day of the second Test match at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday. AFP

Commencing their run-chase after tea, Pakistan recovered from five for two in 16 balls to finish the day at 76 for 4 in 24 overs.

When Pakistan resume the run-chase on Monday morning, needing another 178 runs, all eyes will be on vice-captain Saud Shakeel, who was batting on 13 after contributing 32 in the first innings. With him was nightwatchman Kashif Ali (0) while Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha are yet to come out to bat.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was the first batter to be dismissed when he missed a straight delivery and was adjudged leg-before by off-spinner Kevin Sinclair.

Shan's opening partner Mohammad Hurraira soon followed, attempting a reverse sweep off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, only to be trapped in front of the stumps.

Kamran Ghulam's uncomfortable 29-ball stay ended when he tried one shot too many off Jomel Warrican and was caught at cover.

Sajid Khan (R) celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies' Jomel Warrican during the second day of the second Test match. AFP

Pakistan suffered a major setback shortly before stumps when Babar Azam was caught at forward short-leg off Sinclair, leaving the team at 71 for 4.

Babar, who had looked solid for his 67-ball 31, failed to control the spin and bounce from Sinclair, putting Pakistan in a precarious position.

Earlier, West Indies captain Kraigg Braithwaite (52) finally hit a half century in his fourth innings of the series before West Indies frustrated Pakistan for two sessions before getting bowled out for 244 to give it an overall lead of 253.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali (4-80) and Sajid Khan (4-76) once again shared the bulk of the wickets as Ali ended up with a match haul of 10 wickets after claiming a hat-trick in his first-innings figures of 6-41.

Imlach (35), debutant Amir Jangoo (30) and Sinclair (28) made meaningful contributions as the West Indies' countercharge against the spinners worked well with Brathwaite setting the tone of brisk scoring in the morning session.

The West Indies lead was 154 when it lost the sixth wicket of Justin Greaves (10), who reverse swept to Abrar Ahmed early after lunch, but Sinclair and Imlach shared a 51-run stand and swelled the tourists' lead.

Brathwaite had stretched West Indies' lead to 101 with nine second-innings wickets in hand but the tourists lost four wickets in the hour before lunch.

It was in sharp contrast to a chaotic Day 1 that saw 20 wickets fall and Pakistan concede a slender nine-run lead after it was bowled out for 154 in reply to West Indies score of 163.

Agencies