Kraigg Brathwaite may have missed out on a much-deserved hundred after an untimely run out, but the skipper’s disciplined knock of 97 in difficult circumstances propelled West Indies past Pakistan’s first-innings total of 217 in the ongoing first Test at Jamaica.
The 28-year-old batted with great patience and resilience against the visiting seamers who enjoyed prodigious swing and seam movement on Day 2 at the Sabina Park. The West Indies captain stuck around for 221 deliveries and stitched a vital 96-run partnership with half-centurion Jason Holder (58) to help his team inch ahead and overhaul Pakistan by 34 runs by the end of play with two wickets still intact.
Holder once again reinforced his value and class as an all-round cricketer, scoring another valiant fifty when his team desperately needed one. At 100/5, it seemed that West Indies would end up conceding a decisive lead in what is shaping up to be a low-scoring encounter. But Holder and Brathwaite’s fighting sixth-wicket stand ensured they kept the opposition at bay.
Earlier on as well, Brathwaite had the controlled one end resolutely in crucial stands with Roston Chase (21) and Jermaine Blackwood (22) for the third and fourth wickets, respectively, after West Indies lost their opener Kieran Powell (0) and No.3 Nkrumah Bonner (0) the previous evening. Kyle Mayers (0) was another West Indies batsman to get out without troubling the scorers.
Once Holder and Brathwaite fell, lower-order batter Kemar Roach (13) also added some crucial runs with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (20*) before being dismissed just near the close of play.
Pakistan would be a touch disappointed to have lost their grip over the contest to Brathwaite and Holder’s restrained efforts. Mohammad Abbas (3/42) and Shaheen Afridi (2/59) have been the most active in the wickets column, while Faheem Ashraf (1/37) and Hasan Ali (1/54) have been economical. Experienced leg-spinner Yasir Shah was the only one to have a real off day with the ball, as he conceded 46 runs off his 13 overs without taking a wicket.
Brief scores
West Indies 251/8 (Kraigg Brathwaite 97, Jason Holder 58; Mohammad Abbas 3/42, Shaheen Afridi 2/59) lead Pakistan 217 (Fawad Alam 56, Faheem Ashraf 44; Jason Holder 3/26, Jayden Seales 3/70) by 34 runs
