West Indies ended the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan in a strong position after Justin Greaves produced a determined unbeaten 64 runs at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. Despite frequent rain interruptions, the hosts finished the day on 239 for 5, thanks to an important partnership that steadied the innings after a middle order collapse.
Greaves once again proved his value by playing with patience and confidence under pressure. His innings came at a crucial stage when West Indies had slipped to 173 for 5. Alongside captain Roston Chase, who remained unbeaten on 36, Greaves built a valuable 66 run partnership that helped his team regain control before stumps.
The all rounder survived a major scare shortly after completing his half century when Pakistan captain Babar Azam dropped a simple catch at leg slip. Greaves was also struggling with a left leg injury after completing a quick run, but he continued to bat with determination and frustrated the Pakistani bowlers throughout the final session.
Earlier in the day, Brandon King provided a positive start with an aggressive 46 runs, while Shai Hope contributed 29 before being dismissed by Mohammad Ali, who was Pakistan’s most effective bowler. Ali consistently challenged the batters and created several opportunities despite limited support in the slip cordon.
Pakistan also surprised many cricket fans by leaving out Mohammad Abbas, who had taken eight wickets in the previous Test. Instead, the visitors introduced another debutant and opted for an extra spinner after assessing the dry surface. Sajid Khan claimed an important wicket, while debutant Ubaid Shah celebrated his first Test dismissal.
The opening day belonged to Justin Greaves, whose composed innings kept West Indies in a competitive position. With Greaves and Chase still at the crease, the home side will look to build a substantial first innings total on day two. Pakistan, meanwhile, will hope for early wickets to shift the momentum back in their favor.
