Kraigg Brathwaite scored a fighting 50 on a tough track. © AFP Kraigg Brathwaite scored his 31st Test fifty and pushed West Indies’ lead past 100 runs but Noman Ali and Sajid Khan combined to dismantle half the visitors’ line-up on the treacherous Multan pitch in the morning session of Day 2. West Indies arrived in the morning session armed with counter-attacking intent, and scored 129 runs at more than three-and-a-half runs an over as the fixture continued to gallop ahead at breakneck pace after 20 wickets fell on the opening day. Brathwaite lost his opening partner Mikyle Louis to first-innings’ hat-trick hero Noman after a 50-run stand and then navigated well against spin in the company of No.3 batter Amir Jangoo. West Indies’ plans to go on the counter worked through this partnership, but Noman broke through with the wicket of the half-centurion. Sajid then took out Jangoo while Kavem Hodge became Noman’s third victim. Brathwaite took centre stage in the first hour, batting astutely against spin and getting on the right side of four DRS calls to bring up a brisk fifty. But he couldn’t keep up his resilience for longer, as he was deceived by flight from Noman. Brathwaite gave the spinner the charge and missed with a big shot. Mohammad Rizwan, who needed attention to his knee after being hit earlier, quickly took off the bails to send the half-centurion packing. Debutant Jangoo shook off his golden duck in the first innings to take on the Pakistan spinners. He confidently swept even as the ball turned square. Jangoo’s adventurism was cut short by a loopy Sajid Khan delivery that resulted in a catch at first slip. By the end of the session, an eager Pakistan side lost all three reviews – one each against Brathwaite, Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge. The latter however, gave Noman the charge and fell in similar fashion to Brathwaite. At the stroke of Lunch, Noman spun one in sharply to left-handed Athanaze and trapped him leg before. The West Indies batter walked back, with a review in tow. Brief scores: West Indies 163 & 129/5 (Kraigg Brathwaite 52; Noman Ali 4-59) lead Pakistan 154 (Mohammad Rizwan 49; Jomel Warrican 4-43, Gudakesh Motie 3-49) by 138 runs
