Masood’s masterclass puts Pakistan in control after Ali sparks Windies collapse
Key Points(5)
- After dismissing the West Indies for 311 shortly after lunch, Pakistan replied emphatically, surging to 199 for three by the close of play.
- Masood's unbeaten 88 guided the innings and left the visitors just 112 runs behind the Caribbean side's first-innings total with seven wickets still in hand.
- Ali's relentless spell ends Windies resistance The West Indies resumed the morning on 194 for three in a promising position, but Pakistan's seam attack steadily dismantled the innings through disciplined bowling and sustained pressure.
- The first breakthrough came almost immediately when Kavem Hodge , who resumed on 83, added only a single before edging Khurram Shahzad to Salman Agha at second slip.
- At the opposite end, Shai Hope calmly reached his seventh Test half-century, requiring 113 deliveries to get there after steering Ali through the slips for two runs.
Pakistan wrested control of the opening Test against the West Indies with an impressive display on both sides of the ball on Sunday, as fast bowler Mohammad Ali dismantled the hosts' lower order before Shan Masood produced a commanding unbeaten innings that left the visitors in a powerful position at stumps.
After dismissing the West Indies for 311 shortly after lunch, Pakistan replied emphatically, surging to 199 for three by the close of play. Masood's unbeaten 88 guided the innings and left the visitors just 112 runs behind the Caribbean side's first-innings total with seven wickets still in hand.
Ali's relentless spell ends Windies resistance
The West Indies resumed the morning on 194 for three in a promising position, but Pakistan's seam attack steadily dismantled the innings through disciplined bowling and sustained pressure.
The first breakthrough came almost immediately when Kavem Hodge, who resumed on 83, added only a single before edging Khurram Shahzad to Salman Agha at second slip.
At the opposite end, Shai Hope calmly reached his seventh Test half-century, requiring 113 deliveries to get there after steering Ali through the slips for two runs. Fortune briefly smiled on the right-hander when Azan Awais spilled a straightforward chance at first slip just two balls after the milestone.
Hope found support from Justin Greaves, whose elegant stroke play included three eye-catching off-side boundaries before he edged Ali to Agha, departing with the score at 231 for five.
Pakistan tightened their grip as Mohammad Abbas had captain Roston Chase caught behind for 10, while Shahzad accounted for Kemar Roach, who fended a short delivery to slip for three, reducing the hosts to 274 for seven.
Hope's defiance ends as Pakistan wrap up innings
Hope and Shamar Joseph briefly resisted before the interval, carrying the West Indies to 303 for seven at lunch. Joseph counterattacked in entertaining fashion, striking several aggressive boundaries, including a superb cover drive.
The resistance lasted only 15 minutes into the afternoon session.
Ali bounced out Joseph for a brisk 23 from just 13 deliveries before trapping Hope lbw for a superb 92. Hope's innings came from 182 balls and included six fours and a six, but his dismissal effectively ended the West Indies' hopes of posting a more imposing total.
Ali then bowled Jayden Seales to complete an outstanding spell of four for 50 as the last five wickets tumbled for only 54 runs.
Abbas provided excellent support with three for 63, while Shahzad finished with two for 66.
Masood and Imam turn the momentum
Pakistan's reply began disastrously when Roach dismissed Awais for a duck in the third over, clean bowling the opener to claim the 301st Test wicket of his distinguished career.
That early breakthrough, however, proved to be the West Indies' lone success for much of the afternoon.
Masood and Imam-ul-Haq launched a magnificent counterattack, capitalizing on inconsistent bowling from Roach, Seales and Joseph. With the West Indies seamers frequently offering width or pitching too short, the Pakistani pair drove and cut with authority, scoring at a rate more commonly associated with limited-overs cricket.
Masood enjoyed a measure of good fortune as several attacking drives flew just beyond the slip cordon, while Jomel Warrican could only get fingertips to one fierce chance that flashed through the gully region.
The left-hander raced to his 15th Test half-century from only 46 balls, reaching the milestone with a single to cover off Joseph.
By the tea interval, Pakistan had accelerated to 96 for one from just 19 overs, firmly shifting the momentum.
Late wickets offer West Indies a glimmer
The dominance continued after tea as Imam reached his 11th Test half-century from 81 deliveries, bringing it up with a crisp cover drive off Roach.
Together, Imam and Masood added 155 for the second wicket before Joseph finally made the breakthrough. Greaves produced a superb catch at wide first slip to dismiss Imam for 63 from 102 balls and end the marathon partnership.
Seales then gave the hosts another reason for optimism late in the day when he had captain Babar Azam caught behind for 23, leaving Pakistan on 197 for three.
Masood remained the central figure at stumps, unbeaten on 88 from 137 deliveries with 11 boundaries, while Agha was yet to score.
With a healthy platform established and only 112 runs separating them from the West Indies' first-innings total, Pakistan will enter the third day in a commanding position, while the hosts face an uphill battle to regain control of the opening Test.
