Shafique Century and Babar 86 Put Pakistan Right Back in the 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval

Abdullah Shafique scored 107 not out and Babar Azam is unbeaten on 86. Pakistan ended Day 2 on 266/2, trailing West Indies 344 by just 78 runs with eight wickets still in hand.

This was Pakistan’s best batting session in years. Shafique’s sixth Test century and first since 2024 arrived in the final over of the day. Babar is 14 runs from his first Test century in four years. The 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain is firmly in Pakistan’s hands.

How Pakistan Bowled West Indies Out for 344

Sajid Khan finished with 4-85 — his best figures in the series. He bowled with aggression and clean up the tail efficiently. That has been a Pakistan weakness for two years. Today it was not.

Ali Usman dismissed Greaves with his first ball after Babar took the new ball — a leading edge found Awais Zafar at short third. Ubaid Shah struck with his first delivery of the day — a cross-seam ball that flicked the top of Chase’s middle stump off the pad. Chase gone for 70. West Indies 277/6 had become 344 all out by lunch.

Greaves ended with 73. Chase added 70. Their fifth-wicket stand pushed West Indies from 173/5 to above 270. Without that partnership West Indies settle for around 290. Pakistan’s failure to take the sixth wicket quickly on Day 1 cost them 50 runs.

Pakistan 1st Innings — 266/2 (66 overs)

Yet to bat: Rizwan, Agha, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Ali

Fall: 1-34 (Imam 7.3) 2-98 (Awais 20.5)

Azan Awais — Pakistan’s Fearless Opener

With Shan Masood injured Pakistan needed Awais to step up without a safety net. He delivered immediately.

Awais hit the second ball of Pakistan’s innings to fine leg for four off Kemar Roach. In Roach’s second over he hit three successive boundaries and forced the veteran off the attack. Shamar Joseph came on and bowled the quickest deliveries of the series — touching 150 km/h — and Awais dispatched him for four boundaries too.

55 runs off 71 balls. 10 fours. A sweep against Warrican that hit him in front eventually ended his innings via DRS review. But Awais set the tone Pakistan needed. His innings established the platform Shafique and Babar converted into something historic.

Shafique and Babar — Pakistan’s Best Batting Session in Years

Pakistan were 98/2 when Shafique and Babar came together. What followed was 168 runs in an unbroken third-wicket partnership that covered 34 overs and never looked in danger.

Shafique reached his fifty off 79 balls with two sixes over cover off Warrican — attacking strokes that showed he was playing with freedom rather than caution. He drove Roach through the covers with a pair of majestic shots to reach 50. He then sat on 99 for an agonising wait before the final delivery of the day was dragged short — he slapped it through midwicket and roared.

Babar looked like himself again. Jayden Seales — who dismissed him for 23 in the 1st Test — came on early and Babar dispatched him for three boundaries immediately. He rotated the strike, denied West Indies any openings in the final hour and closed in on a century that would be his first in Test cricket since 2022.

Abdullah Shafique batting average under different captains:

• Under Shan Masood: 20.52
• Under Babar Azam: 55.29

That stat circulating among Pakistan supporters tells its own story.

Sajid Khan — Overlooked in the 1st Test, Match-Shaping in the 2nd

Sajid Khan was dropped for the 1st Test in Tarouba. He returned for the 2nd Test and finished Day 2 with 4-85 — the best bowling figures for Pakistan in this innings.

He bowled with the intensity and aggression that forces batters into mistakes. Pakistan’s spinners have too often been content to contain rather than attack. Sajid targeted the stumps, varied his pace and cleaned up the tail without allowing West Indies to add unnecessary runs.

Four wickets from 22 overs on a surface that played flatter than expected is a genuine contribution. Pakistan’s bowling was more disciplined than West Indies’ on a day the hosts started with the advantage.

What Pakistan Need on Day 3

Babar resumes on 86. Shafique on 107. Pakistan trail by 78 with eight wickets left.

If Babar reaches his century in the first session and Pakistan bat past 380 they take a first innings lead. A lead of even 20 to 30 runs on a pitch that will deteriorate puts Pakistan in the position of setting West Indies a target in the fourth innings — the reverse of the 1st Test situation.

The first hour of Day 3 is the critical period. West Indies need to separate Babar and Shafique quickly. If they cannot the game is Pakistan’s to lose.

Read More: Greaves and Chase Rescue West Indies as Pakistan Miss Abbas on Day 1 of 2nd Test

Fan Pulse

Pakistan supporters are cautiously optimistic. Three honest themes after Day 2.

The fear of another collapse is real. Supporters who watched Pakistan fall for 120 in the 1st Test second innings have not forgotten. The widespread feeling is that Babar and Shafique must survive the first hour of Day 3 before the rest of the team can be trusted to build. The concern is not malicious — it is earned by recent experience.

Sajid Khan’s return is generating appreciation. He was omitted from the 1st Test and responded with four wickets in the 2nd. Supporters credit him for bowling with senior responsibility at a moment when Pakistan needed experienced spin bowling rather than containing spin bowling.

Ubaid Shah’s development is discussed positively. His wicket of Chase was a genuine delivery — cross-seam, hitting the top of middle stump. Supporters who criticised his Day 1 figures note that he showed improvement on Day 2. The general view is that he is a work in progress who showed enough today to earn another day.

FAQ

What was Pakistan’s score at end of Day 2 vs West Indies 2nd Test? Pakistan ended Day 2 on 266/2 from 66 overs at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain. Abdullah Shafique was unbeaten on 107 and Babar Azam on 86. Pakistan trail West Indies 344 by 78 runs.

Did Abdullah Shafique score a century vs West Indies 2nd Test? Yes. Abdullah Shafique scored 107 not out from 185 balls — his sixth Test century and first since 2024. He reached his hundred off the final delivery of Day 2.

What are Babar Azam’s score in 2nd Test vs West Indies Day 2? Babar Azam is unbeaten on 86 from 126 balls including 10 fours and 1 six. He is 14 runs from his first Test century since 2022.

How many wickets did Sajid Khan take vs West Indies 2nd Test? Sajid Khan took 4-85 from 22 overs — his best bowling figures of the series and the most wickets by any Pakistan bowler in West Indies’ first innings of 344.

What is Abdullah Shafique’s average under Babar Azam? Abdullah Shafique averages 55.29 in Tests under Babar Azam’s captaincy compared to 20.52 under Shan Masood’s captaincy.

What time does Day 3 start? Day 3 begins at 10:00 AM local time — 7:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time — on 4 August 2026 at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.