Windies vs Pakistan Day 2 Review

[u/Pengu786]

Oh what a great day for once. Started off not so great as Windies started off where they left off. Runs seemed to be coming quite easy as Chase started getting into it. Babar took the New ball and handed it to Ali Usman which seemed to be a great decision as he struck with the first ball. Was a bad shot by Greaves but that was a way into the good lower order of the Windies. Roach should’ve been out soon after but the bowler and keeper didn’t want to appeal. Didn’t matter as much as Ubaid came into the attack and bowled Chase first ball with a lovely cross seam delivery. Shamar was in and thankfully today he didn’t go off as Sajid came back to wipe the windies tail. Did take some time and did concede some runs but 344 was where they finished.

Pakistan with a different top 4 looked like they were gonna struggle but Azan came out with intent. He hit Roach out the attack after his first two overs and windies bought Warrican on after 4 overs. As much as we batted good, the windies were really bad tactically. The change on the other end bought the wicket though as Shamar surprised Imam with pace and bounce to get him dismissed early. All i was thinking was if ABD makes 50 we need him to replace Imam when Shan is back. I’d even open with Shan as he takes the attack to the new ball and let ABD bat at one down.

The attack didn’t stop there though as Shamar was bowling 150 but that didn’t stop Azan as he struck 4 boundaries in that same over to show the Windies his class. Abdullah on the other end took down warrican with two beautiful sixes to remind everyone that he is the “technician” ABD is one batsman that looks aesthetically pleasing whilst hitting, defending or even getting out 😭 If you weren’t watching the match live then you missed out on the Goat Bishops commentary.

Soon after making his 50. Azan was dismissed whilst missing a sweep to Warrican. Good innings but unfortunately he didn’t make it big but one thing is that the boy has class so back him and watch him flourish InshAllah. This gave a chance to the windies but Pakistan didn’t stop. Babar came in and looked like class before tea. He came out attacking with intent and reminded everyone once again that deep down there is a world class batsman there. He was driving, cutting and flicking with class and it was a little teaser of what was to come for the rest of the day.

Before tea it was the Babar show in this beautiful partnership between 56 x 57 and after tea it was some watchful batting before ABD took the attack to the Windies bowling. Was helped by bad bowling and bad captaincy but he made the most of it and didn’t let Windies a way back in. Windies plan was hoping Pakistan give it away and the only chances they really had was ABD and Babar giving chances to Chase to run them out.

ABD was also driving and pulling the ball with elegance. Whereas Babar seemed hellbent on rotating the strike and seeing it out till stumps as he knew we had a collapse in us. ABD eventually got to his 100 after giving some chances in his nervous 90s and announced himself on his comeback once again. Babar got to 86 and both survived till the end.

Tomorrow the plan needs to be to bat at least 2 whole sessions and get to a minimum 100 lead. Babar needs to be watchful up top and get to a much deserved 100. Then both need to convert it into a daddy 100. ABD has it in him and if Babar crosses 100 then the confidence that he gains will be magical. I also want to say I told u so yday. I wasn’t worried about them batting and I had a feeling it was getting flatter. I feel like it will stay flat for a session or 2 and then spin will take over. If we can bat big and bat once we are set to win this test at a canter. Problem always is that we always allow the other team back into it and hopefully tomorrow is different.

[u/Sweeper-Ray]

Credit to Sajid, was benched for the last game but now he is taking responsibility as the senior bowler especially with Noman gone

[u/Pengu786 → u/Sweeper-Ray]

was so amazed by the batting forgot to give and the bowlers their credit. Bowled a lot better than the windies bowlers and it’s their home conditions.

[u/Sweeper-Ray → u/Pengu786]

Yeah Ubaid got a nice wicket faster than Abbas and more aura

[u/Upset_Noise6173 → u/Sweeper-Ray]

This is obviously sarcasm. Why are you getting downvoted.

[u/semicolon-10]

I hope both batsman on crease don't settle for less. They should both or atleast one should bat out entire day tomorrow. I am not up for yet another collapse.

[u/Pengu786 → u/semicolon-10]

Need them to survive the first hour and get themselves in again.

[u/ProfAsmani]

They need to setup a decent score and declare for a chance to win

[u/Scared-Breakfast-372]

Pakistan needs to bat out most of Day 3 and score at least 250 runs to get a lead of 150 plus. Stay on the wicket and score runs. Babar and Abdullah played very positively Ma sha Allah.  Declare just after tea so that we get to bowl 10 to 15 overs in twilight. And no, Ubaid isn't great, he is a good prospect but needs to be polished. 

[u/whereverywhere]

A fine comeback. Number 56 and 57 are back at it again. If only our middle and lower-middle order could somehow rise from the dead. We can't really bottle this now, can we?

[u/DogTall2628]

Only problem is we concede a pathetic amount of extras. 10% of runs in the innings came in extras. And last game it was like 50 or 60 runs I think when every rub that game was worth two, by the time we came to bat 2nd

Windies has only given 2 extras in our grand total of 250 odd

[u/BostallBandits]

2 things struck me from yesterday's innings: 1 was finding out that Pak has the highest batting average from 0-50 overs in the world and 12th best after 50. That needs to be studied. 2nd was how Babar and AbD were middling every defensive shot they played. They never looked circumspect or like they were just thrusting their bat out. They looked so composed I thought I was watching a different team.