PAK vs WI, 2nd Test Day 2 Review: Match hangs in the balance after another wicket-heavy day

After a 20-wicket opening day of the second Test between Pakistan (PAK) and West Indies (WI) in Multan, it remained to be seen how Day 2 would play out. As per the pitch report prior to the commencement of the day's play, batters were to navigate themselves cautiously, with spinners expected to dominate. This is exactly how proceedings panned out. 

Opening the bowling was Sajid Khan. Offering him company from the other end was debutant, Kashif Ali. It was a cautious start from West Indies. Kashif impressed everyone by being right on the money. He started off the visitors' second innings with a couple of maidens. No boundaries were scored in the first four overs. 

West Indian Skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite, came out with a positive intent. The first maximum of the innings was courtesy of his willow, off a generously flighted delivery by Sajid. On the other hand, Brathwaite's opening partner was playing the waiting game. The 50 was up for the Windies, with the skipper scoring 70% of the runs.

However, Noman Ali got the better of Mikyle Louis just a couple of deliveries later. The next couple of overs by the hat-trick hero of the first innings were a little expensive, and he was removed from the attack. Brathwaite got to his 31st half-century off just 57 balls. Test debutant, Amir Jangoo, who got out on a duck in the first innings, looked quite at ease too. The Windies skipper was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan shortly after.

West Indies set 254-run target for Pakistan while aiming for series leveller

A couple of overs after West Indies got to their 100, Jangoo departed to grant Sajid his first dismissal of the innings. Alick Athanaze became Noman's fourth victim as Lunch was taken just after the former's dismissal. Despite the dismissal, it could be said that the first session belonged to West Indies more than Pakistan, with 128 runs scored in 34.2 overs.

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Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair struck a 51-run partnership together. The seventh-wicket stand really provided some much-needed assurance to the West Indian dugout. However, both the players were dismissed within a span of 17 deliveries. Imlach played all around a Kashif delivery which squared him up and trapped him in front. He departed after a 35-run knock. 

Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican registered 18 each before West Indies were all-out for 244. Sajid and Noman both finished with four apiece. Chasing 254 was never going to be an easy task for any side on a deck which was turning out to be a minefield for batters. Pakistan could not have gotten off to a more disastrous start, with both their openers in the hut in the second and third over of their run-chase, respectively. Babar Azam looked good for his 31 runs, but was dismissed to provide Sinclair his second of the innings.