Jangoo targets 350-plus total before Pakistan bats last in Trinidad.
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An Evenly Poised Day
The second Test match between West Indies and Pakistan got off to a pitch-typical start at Queen’s Park Oval, with neither side capitalizing on the slow and spin-friendly conditions.
Though rain intervened and both teams displayed commendable discipline, West Indies were still in a strong position at the close of play, scoring 239 for 5 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings. Both sides had their moments, but West Indies will be feeling confident about the draw after having batted first.
A Good Start From West Indies
Every member of the West Indies’ batting order has scored double digits so far, as they looked to capitalize on the surface which did not offer any help to the bowlers.
Brandon King’s entertaining 46, which included nine fours before he was eventually caught at first man by debutant spinner Ali Usman, got them off to a good start. However, the first innings did not entirely match up to the exciting opening.
Greaves And Chase Take Centre Stage
A partnership between Justin Greaves and Roston Chase towards the end saw off the chase of Pakistan, with the former hitting an unbeaten 64 and the latter scoring 36 as they took the visitors to stumps with five wickets still in hand.
The batting duo was the only ones able to post substantive runs and finish the day on a positive note for the home side, as both played cautious shots throughout the day, which helped them survive the sluggish conditions.
Jangoo Hails Good Team Effort
Amir Jangoo, who scored a well-made 26 before falling to Ubaid Shah, felt that the team would have been in a better position had they not lost a few key wickets in the middle.
Speaking after the day’s play, he reasoned that the slow surface made it challenging for batters to score freely, but his teammates’ composed approach to the game saw them negotiate the stifling first hour without losing too many wickets.
Hitting A Target Over 350
Jangoo also revealed that his team does not have a specified target, but he believed they need to post a very high score in the first innings. With the pitch likely to deteriorate as the game progresses, anything beyond 350 would give Pakistan a tough time in their bid to chase down the runs, especially since they bat last on this surface.
He also felt day two will be critical for the home team, in case they need to post big totals, before the pitch starts to slow down the game on the final two days.
Pakistan Goes All-In On Spin
Pakistan made a surprising call to leave out their seamers Mohammad Abbas and Aamer Jamal for this game, as they went all-in on spin with Sajid Khan.
The decision was on spin-friendly surfaces, and it began to pay dividends immediately after lunch as Khan accounted for opener Kavem Hodge and debutant Ali Usman had the crucial wicket of King. Another debutant seamer, Ubaid Shah, also added to the tally, claiming Jangoo’s wicket.
Usman Talks About Pakistan’s Tactics
Ali Usman was on the attack, pointing out that the pitch only offered some help, so they had to bowl it at times to get the ball to do what they wanted. He also emphasized that the pitch had enough turn, but it was slow, so batters had to wait for their shots.
These qualities influenced Pakistan’s decision-making, which explains why they tried to limit the scoring by using shorter deliveries and cutting down the powerplay.
Focus On The First Hour Of Day Two
A good start is always essential, and this game is no different, with the first hour on day two being particularly crucial. If West Indies can get to around 300 without losing too many wickets, they will be in a commanding position to dictate the game.
Jangoo also noted that the pitch has enough pace for medium pacemen on good balls, something that will be a big advantage to West Indies when Pakistan comes out to bat.
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