WI vs Pak 1st Test: Hope's Century Bid Alive as Pak Strike on Day 2

Pakistan tightened their grip on the opening day of the WI vs Pak 1st Test after a disciplined pace attack reduced West Indies to 303 for 7 before lunch on Day 2, leaving the hosts dependent on Shai Hope's century bid to push their first-innings total beyond 300.

Having gone wicketless in the final session on the previous day, Pakistan's seamers returned with greater control and quickly broke through the middle order. The visitors claimed four wickets during the morning session, turning what had appeared to be a stable West Indies innings into one under increasing pressure.

Pakistan Seamers Expose Middle Order

The breakthrough came when Khurram Shahzad ended Kavem Hodge's well-made 84, denying the left-hander a century after he had anchored the innings for much of the first two days. Pakistan continued to challenge the outside edge with consistent movement, forcing the West Indies batters to play at deliveries outside off stump.

Mohammad Ali maintained relentless accuracy and was rewarded with the wicket of Justin Greaves after an earlier chance off Shai Hope's century hopeful had gone down in the slips. Salman Agha accepted both catches cleanly, helping Pakistan build sustained pressure.

Abbas Keeps Pakistan on Top

Mohammad Abbas added another important wicket when he dismissed Roston Chase with his trademark precision, while Shahzad returned to remove Kemar Roach before lunch. Although the introduction of the second new ball reduced some of the movement, Pakistan continued to create opportunities through disciplined lines rather than outright pace.

Hope, however, remained composed throughout the session. The right-hander absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike effectively and carried the responsibility of guiding the lower order after wickets fell regularly around him. His unbeaten 89 ensured West Indies remained in contention despite losing momentum.

Shamar Joseph offered useful late resistance with a brisk cameo that lifted the scoring rate before the interval, but the hosts will rely heavily on Hope to convert his innings into three figures and add valuable runs with the tail.

Pakistan's bowlers will return after the break looking to wrap up the innings quickly, while West Indies will hope Shai Hope's century can provide a competitive first-innings platform in the WI vs Pak 1st Test.

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