Pakistan clawed their way back into the first Test against West Indies on Day 2 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, closing the day on 199 for 3, still 112 runs behind West Indies’ first-innings total of 311. The day belonged to opener Imam-ul-Haq and the returning Shan Masood, whose 155-run stand for the second wicket dragged Pakistan out of early trouble and set up a platform for a real tilt at the lead on Day 3.
The biggest story of the day, though, may have been with the ball. Mohammad Ali tore through the West Indies lower order with four wickets, turning what looked like a total heading past 400 into a much more restrained 311 all out. That single spell shaped the entire complexion of the Test — and it’s the reason Pakistan go into Day 3 with a genuine chance of taking a first-innings lead rather than chasing the game from a distance.
With the pitch already showing signs of turn and the West Indies pace attack finding reverse swing in patches, Day 3 in Trinidad is shaping up as the moment this Test tips one way or the other.
Match Snapshot
| Category | Details |
| Match | West Indies vs Pakistan, 1st Test |
| Series | Pakistan tour of West Indies 2026 |
| Venue | Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad |
| Date | Day 2 — Sunday, 26 July 2026 |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss, chose to bat |
| West Indies Score | 311 all out (98.5 overs) |
| Pakistan Score | 199/3 (48 overs) |
| Trail | Pakistan trail by 112 runs |
| Best Batter (Day 2) | Shan Masood — 88* off 137 balls |
| Best Bowler (Day 2) | Mohammad Ali — 4/50 |
| Match Status | Pakistan batting, Day 3 to resume |
Match Summary
West Indies resumed Day 2 in a commanding position at 194 for 3 but could add only 117 more runs before folding for 311, losing their last five wickets for just 54. Mohammad Ali was the chief destroyer, finishing with 4 for 50 and giving Pakistan’s seam attack the reward it had missed on the opening day.
In reply, Pakistan lost Azan Awais cheaply before Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood combined for a rapid 155-run partnership that came at almost a run a ball. Imam fell late in the day for 63, and Babar Azam followed shortly after for 23, but Masood stood firm on an unbeaten 88 to leave Pakistan well placed overnight.
The overall picture heading into Day 3: West Indies still hold the lead, but Pakistan have the batting depth and momentum to erase the 112-run gap quickly if Masood and Salman Agha can extend their overnight stand.
Day 2 Highlights
- West Indies lost their last five wickets for only 54 runs in the morning and early afternoon session.
- Mohammad Ali claimed 4 for 50, including three wickets in a single burst after lunch.
- Shai Hope was left stranded on 92, falling leg-before eight runs short of a well-deserved century.
- Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood added 155 for Pakistan’s second wicket at close to a run a ball.
- Imam-ul-Haq brought up his half-century before falling for 63 in the final session.
- Babar Azam, back as captain for this series, made 23 before edging behind to Jayden Seales.
- Shan Masood, playing his first Test since being removed as Pakistan’s captain in May, finished the day unbeaten on 88.
- Pakistan closed the day well ahead in the momentum stakes despite still trailing on the scoreboard.
Session-Wise Analysis
Morning Session
- West Indies added only a handful of runs to their overnight 194/3 before the collapse began.
- Kavem Hodge fell for 84 early in the session, ending a 91-run stand with Shai Hope.
- Mohammad Ali struck twice more, removing Justin Greaves and pinning back West Indies’ middle order.
- Pakistan’s seamers found consistent lines after a wayward opening day, forcing errors from the home batters.
Afternoon Session
- Mohammad Ali cleaned up the tail, taking three wickets in a rapid spell after lunch.
- Shai Hope was trapped leg-before for 92, denied a sixth Test hundred by a review that went Pakistan’s way.
- West Indies were bowled out for 311, losing their last five wickets in a rush.
- Pakistan’s reply began with an early setback as Azan Awais fell to Kemar Roach for a single run.
Evening Session
- Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood counter-attacked, adding 155 in a stand that dominated the final session.
- West Indies’ bowlers struggled for control in the heat, leaking boundaries at a rapid clip.
- Imam-ul-Haq fell for 63, caught behind attempting a big shot late in his innings.
- Babar Azam followed soon after, edging Jayden Seales for 23 as bad light ended play.
- Shan Masood survived a tight LBW review to remain unbeaten on 88 at stumps.
West Indies First Innings Analysis
Top scorers: Shai Hope (92) and Kavem Hodge (84) were the standout contributors, with Hope agonisingly close to a century before falling to a well-reviewed LBW decision.
Middle order: The middle order provided the bulk of the runs through Hodge and Hope’s 91-run stand, but nobody beyond that pair passed 30, exposing a lack of depth once the top two fell.
Tail collapse: The lower order offered little resistance once Mohammad Ali found his rhythm, with the last five wickets falling for just 54 runs inside a single session.
Missed opportunities: A dropped chance off Hope early in his innings proved costly, with the West Indies wicketkeeper going on to make 92 before finally departing.
Batting approach: West Indies batted patiently through the middle overs but lacked the firepower to accelerate once wickets started falling in clusters.
What went wrong: Once Hodge and Hope were separated, West Indies had no answer to Mohammad Ali’s disciplined seam bowling, and the innings unravelled quickly from a strong position.
Pakistan First Innings Analysis
Early wicket: Azan Awais was removed cheaply by Kemar Roach, giving West Indies an early breakthrough and a sniff of a big first-innings lead.
Imam-ul-Haq’s innings: Imam played a controlled, patient knock, working the gaps and picking off the loose ball before falling for 63 late in the day.
Masood’s innings: Shan Masood batted with real fluency in his first innings back in the ranks, striking 11 fours in an unbeaten 88 that has put Pakistan firmly in the contest.
Partnership: The 155-run stand between Imam and Masood was the innings’ defining passage, coming at close to a run a ball and swinging momentum decisively towards the tourists.
Babar’s wicket: Babar Azam’s 23 ended just before the close, caught behind off Jayden Seales after briefly threatening to accelerate.
Current position: Pakistan sit at 199/3, needing 113 more runs to draw level and with Masood and Salman Agha well placed to push for the lead on Day 3.
Player Analysis
Shan Masood
Batting in his first Test since losing the captaincy after Pakistan’s series defeat in Bangladesh, Masood delivered exactly the kind of response his side needed. His unbeaten 88 came off 137 balls with 11 boundaries, and while he rode his luck early and survived a tight LBW review late on, the overall quality of his strokeplay was clear. He now heads into Day 3 as Pakistan’s best chance of pushing the total past West Indies’ 311.
Imam-ul-Haq
Imam’s 63 was built on patience and disciplined shot selection, and his stand with Masood was the platform on which Pakistan’s entire reply was built. He struck seven fours in his innings and looked in little trouble until a late lapse in concentration cost him his wicket.
Shai Hope
Hope’s 92 was the innings of the match for West Indies, compiled over more than five hours at the crease. The wicketkeeper-batter was unlucky to fall short of a century, given out leg-before with the total on 311, but his innings was the backbone of West Indies’ total.
Mohammad Ali
Mohammad Ali was the standout performer of the day with figures of 4 for 50, transforming West Indies’ innings from a position of strength into a modest total. His burst after lunch, in which he claimed three wickets, was the pivotal passage of the entire day.
Jayden Seales
Seales struck twice in the evening session, removing both Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam to keep West Indies in the contest just as Pakistan looked to be running away with the momentum. His dismissal of Babar, in particular, arrested Pakistan’s charge before the close.
Shamar Joseph
Joseph chipped in with the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq in the evening session and also contributed with a quickfire cameo of 23 off 13 balls during West Indies’ innings, including a six and three boundaries.
Top Performers Table
| Player | Runs/Wickets | Impact | Rating (out of 10) |
| Shan Masood | 88* (137 balls) | Anchored Pakistan’s reply, still batting | 9 |
| Shai Hope | 92 (WI 1st innings) | Backbone of West Indies’ total | 8.5 |
| Mohammad Ali | 4/50 | Triggered WI’s lower-order collapse | 9 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 63 | Set up the key partnership | 8 |
| Kavem Hodge | 84 (WI 1st innings) | Built the platform with Hope | 7.5 |
| Jayden Seales | 2 wickets | Struck twice late to check Pakistan | 7 |
Key Moments
- Mohammad Ali’s four-wicket burst dismantles West Indies’ lower order.
- Shai Hope falls leg-before on 92, denied a well-earned century.
- Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood put together a rapid 155-run stand.
- Babar Azam’s wicket in the final session halts Pakistan’s momentum.
- Shan Masood survives a review to close the day unbeaten on 88.
Stats That Matter
- Highest partnership of the day: Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood, 155 runs for the second wicket.
- Top individual score: Shai Hope, 92 off more than five hours at the crease.
- Best bowling figures: Mohammad Ali, 4 for 50.
- West Indies’ last five wickets fell for just 54 runs.
- Pakistan’s second-wicket stand came at close to a run-a-ball scoring rate.
- Imam-ul-Haq struck 7 fours; Shan Masood struck 11 fours in his unbeaten innings.
- Pakistan trail by 112 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
Turning Points
The match swung twice in a single day. First, Mohammad Ali’s spell after lunch turned a potential 400-plus West Indies total into a manageable 311, handing Pakistan a realistic target. Then, in the final session, the Imam-Masood stand flipped the psychological advantage entirely towards the tourists, even though West Indies technically still lead on the scoreboard. Babar’s late wicket was the one moment West Indies could hold onto heading into the rest day of momentum.
What This Means for Day 3
Pakistan’s chances: With Masood well set and only 113 runs needed to level the scores, Pakistan will fancy taking a first-innings lead if the top order holds firm through the first hour.
West Indies’ chances: West Indies need early wickets, particularly Masood’s, to peg Pakistan back and prevent the tourists from running away with a substantial lead.
Key battles: Masood and Salman Agha against the new-ball pair of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales will define the first session of Day 3.
Pitch behaviour: With the surface already turning, spin is expected to play a bigger role as the match progresses, putting extra emphasis on how Pakistan’s middle order handles turn later in the innings.
Weather: Light rain is forecast to continue affecting play, which could compress playing time and add urgency to both sides’ approach.
Likely first-hour strategy: Expect West Indies to attack with the new ball early, while Pakistan will look to see off the opening burst before accelerating once set.
Prediction: If Masood converts his overnight score into a century, Pakistan look well placed to take a healthy first-innings lead — but a couple of early wickets could swing the Test straight back towards West Indies.
Playing XIs
West Indies
- Tagenarine Chanderpaul
- Brandon King
- Kavem Hodge
- Shai Hope (wk)
- Amir Jangoo
- Justin Greaves
- Roston Chase (c)
- Kemar Roach
- Jomel Warrican
- Shamar Joseph
- Jayden Seales
Pakistan
- Azan Awais
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Shan Masood
- Babar Azam (c)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Salman Agha
- Aamir Jamal
- Ali Usman
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Abbas
Match Details
- Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
- Umpires: Alex Wharf (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Jayaraman Madanagopal (India, TV umpire)
- Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)
- Weather: Light rain, 31°C, 54% humidity, wind around 9 mph, full cloud cover
- Pitch Report: Turning surface with average batting conditions; pace bowlers finding swing, spinners finding slow turn
Key Takeaways
- West Indies were bowled out for 311 after losing their last five wickets for just 54 runs.
- Mohammad Ali was the standout bowler of the day with figures of 4 for 50.
- Shai Hope fell agonisingly short of a century, out for 92.
- Pakistan reached 199/3 at stumps, trailing by 112 runs.
- Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood shared a match-defining 155-run stand.
- Shan Masood remains unbeaten on 88, batting in his first Test since losing the captaincy.
- Babar Azam’s late dismissal for 23 was West Indies’ only success in the final session.
- Rain and a turning pitch are set to be major factors on Day 3.
- Pakistan need 113 more runs to draw level with West Indies’ first-innings total.
- The match remains finely poised heading into the third day.
FAQs
Who is leading after Day 2 of the West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test? West Indies lead by 112 runs after posting 311 in their first innings; Pakistan closed Day 2 on 199 for 3.
How many runs did Shan Masood score on Day 2? Shan Masood was unbeaten on 88 off 137 balls, including 11 fours, at the close of Day 2.
Who took four wickets for Pakistan on Day 2? Mohammad Ali took 4 for 50 as West Indies’ innings folded for 311.
What was West Indies’ first innings score? West Indies were bowled out for 311 in 98.5 overs.
Who won the toss in the West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test? West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first.
Where is the West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test being played? The match is being played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.
How many runs does Pakistan trail by after Day 2? Pakistan trail West Indies by 112 runs, with 7 wickets in hand.
What can happen on Day 3 of the West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test? Pakistan will look to extend their overnight position and take a first-innings lead, while West Indies will target early wickets — particularly Shan Masood’s — to peg back the tourists.
