WI v PAK, 2nd Test - 5 Game Changing Moments

Pakistan succumbed to a shock defeat at the hands of host West Indies at the Kensington Oval in Barbados in the second Test of the series. After being set a target of 188 to win, Pakistan’s batting fell like ninepins as the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 81, handing a 106-run win to the hosts.

Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, West Indies were in trouble in the first session itself as the Pakistan bowlers bowled tight lines as the home side went into lunch three down. Roston Chase’s heroic hundred pushed their score beyond 300, which gave the bowlers to something to bowl at. Pakistan in reply were off to the best possible start till Shanon Gabriel, Jason Holder and Devendra Bishoo run havoc to take the last 6 wickets for 77 runs to restrict the damage.

Pakistan bowlers again were at it as Yasir Shah recorded his second seven-wicket haul in Test cricket to bowl West Indies out for 268. It was because of Shai Hope’s crucial knock of 90 that the hosts could set an 188-run target, which could be tricky on the Day 5 wicket. Gabriel then picked his second five-wicket haul in Tests to derail the famous Pakistan batting line-up as the visitors were skittled out 106 runs short of the target. We bring you the 5 Game Changing Moments from the 2nd Test match:

1. Roston Chase puts his hand up again

Chase has been a revelation for the West Indies in the last year. Coming in to bat at a precarious 37/3, Chase took center-stage as he grounded the disciplined Pakistan bowling attack. He first found support from opening batsman Powell (38), with whom he added 65 runs for the fourth wicket to get West Indies out of the doldrums.

He then put up 47 runs with keeper batsman Dowrich and 132 runs for the 7th wicket with skipper Holder who, again, contributed with a fine knock of 58. The 25-year-old all-rounder registered his 2nd Test century playing in his 9th Test. Chase finally fell for 131 but not before he gave the West Indies total respectability as they were bowled out for 312.

2. Pakistan openers lay the perfect platform

Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad did not have a good outing in the first Test but they both played a dogged innings to give the perfect start to Pakistan’s inning. Both got stuck to the task as the West Indies peppered them with some tidy bowling. Shehzad registered his fourth Test half-century and looked good for more before he was undone by a peach of a delivery from Devendra Bishoo. The right-hander rode his luck to compile 70 runs, crucial in the circumstances. Azhar, on the other, was sedate in his approach and notched up his 13th Test hundred. Ali and Shehzad added 155 runs for the opening stand, almost half of West Indie’s total in the first innings.

3. Misbah-ul-Haq falls agonisingly short of a century again

After the opening stand, Pakistan stuttered to lose 3 wickets for 6 runs in space of 23 balls to bring the match back in balance. Younis and Babar both departed without troubling the scorers which brought the skipper to the crease. Playing his last series in the Pakistani jersey, Misbah dropped anchor and formed a 98-run partnership with Azhar to steady the ship.

After Azhar fell for a gritty 105, Misbah found an ally in Asad Shafiq, as the duo added 57 runs. As luck would have it, Misbah fell for 99 – failing to get his bat away from a probing delivery from his opposite number Holder. Misbah missed his century second time in a row as he remained unbeaten on 99 in the first innings of the first Test. He, though, made sure that Pakistan were in the lead before he walked back.

4. Hope gives the West Indies hope as Yasir spins a web

West Indies conceded a lead of 81 runs and hence had to get off to a good start but Pakistan bowlers had other ideas. Led by leg-spinner Yasir Shah, Pakistan were aggressive and chipped away with wickets from the start of the innings. Opener Brathwaite and Shai Hope stabilised the innings and took the score close to 100 before the former became the first wicket of the innings for leggie Yasir.

Hope continued to fight it out and found some support from first innings centurion Chase (23) and Vishaul Singh (32). The 23-year-old Hope recorded his first fifty in Test cricket to give his side some hope of a fight back. He finally fell to Shah – failing to clear the fielder at covers – for a special knock of 90. The stage was set for Yasir Shah to exploit the deteriorating wicket as he bundled the West Indies out for 268, the last 6 wickets fell for 33 runs. Shah finished with 7/94 and Pakistan needed 188 runs to clinch the 3-match series.

5. Shanon Gabriel and Holder’s hostile spell floors the visitors

188 was never going to be an easy chase and Pakistan were wary of that. The fast bowlers – Gabriel, Holder and Joseph came out all guns blazing in defence of the total. Gabriel ran in with a spring in his stride and immediately got the much needed early wicket as he sent first innings centurion Azhar Ali back to the hut. Joseph and Holder struck quickly after, to leave Pakistan tottering at 3/27.

It was now Gabriel’s turn to pick wickets. He ran through the middle order to break the back of Pakistan’s chase as they went into lunch at 35/5. Both soon to be retired legends: Misbah and Younis, were back in the pavilion and the tail was already exposed just 21 overs into the innings. Holder picked the last wicket – of Sarfaraz who holed out at long on – to cap a memorable win for the West Indies. Big fast bowler Gabriel finished with career best 5/11 and was awarded the Man of the Match award for his match haul of 9 wickets.