Pakistan Fight Back As Shan Masood Stands Firm Against West Indies

West Indies walked off believing they had tightened their grip. Pakistan left the field convinced the contest was far from over.

At the close of Day 2 of the Pakistan vs West Indies Test at Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Pakistan reached 199 for 3 in reply to West Indies' 311, still trailing by 112 runs but carrying fresh belief into the third morning.

Much of that confidence came from Shan Masood. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 88 from 137 deliveries, striking 11 boundaries during an innings built on patience and smart shot selection. Every loose delivery disappeared, while the good ones were respected. It was the sort of knock Pakistan desperately needed after losing an early wicket.

Azan Awais departed without scoring, leaving Pakistan under pressure inside three overs. Imam-ul-Haq responded with a composed 63 before falling to Shamar Joseph, while Babar Azam added 23 but failed to turn his start into something bigger. Once Babar edged Jayden Seales to slip late in the day, West Indies sensed another opening.

Instead, Salman Ali Agha survived alongside Masood to ensure Pakistan finished without further damage.

Masood Keeps Pakistan Alive After West Indies Set the Pace

Earlier, West Indies recovered from early blows to post 311 in their first innings. Captain Roston Chase could only manage 10, but Shai Hope produced the innings that changed the mood inside the ground. His composed 92 frustrated Pakistan's bowlers for more than three hours before Mohammad Ali finally broke through.

Kavem Hodge added a valuable 84, giving the hosts a platform that looked even stronger after Pakistan's shaky start.

Pakistan's bowlers shared the wickets. Salman Ali Agha claimed three, Mohammad Ali finished with three of his own, while Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad chipped in at important moments to prevent West Indies from pulling away completely.

Now attention shifts back to Shan Masood unbeaten 88. Pakistan still has Mohammad Rizwan, Aamir Jamal and the lower order waiting to bat. A strong first session on Day 3 could wipe out the deficit and swing the pressure onto the home side.

The scoreboard still favours West Indies. The momentum, however, is no longer one-sided. With Shan Masood unbeaten 88 and plenty of batting still available, Pakistan have given themselves a genuine chance to reshape this opening Test in Trinidad.