Pakistan suffered a familiar batting order collapse, but once again their bowlers brought them strongly back into the match as West Indies led by 60 runs with four wickets remaining when stumps were drawn on the third day of the second Test in Port of Spain on Tuesday.

Abdullah Shafique returned undefeated on 160 after resuming at 107, as Pakistan – starting the day at 266 for two – slipped from 281 for two to be bowled out for 387, losing their last eight wickets for just 106 runs in reply to West Indies’ 344 all-out. However, off-spinner Sajid Khan recorded his second four-fer of the match and Ali Usman picked up two wickets, including the prized scalp of West Indies captain Roston Chase on the penultimate delivery of the last over of the day, as the home side finished at 103 for six after conceding a 43-run first-innings lead.

Justin Greaves, who did not bowl in Pakistan’s first innings due to a thigh injury, was batting on one from 16 balls. With Brandon King stretchered off after a nasty fall in his follow-through that ran out Babar Azam and dashed the Pakistan captain’s hopes of a first century in 35 Test innings, unable to bat, defeat looms large for West Indies, of course, barring the glorious uncertainties of the game.

After the West Indies were off to a 40-run start, Sajid Khan pinned Tagenarine Chanderpaul (17) in front of the wickets, castled Amir Jangoo (13), trapped Shai Hope (15) in front of the wickets off a lace-high delivery, and trapped nightwatchman Jayden Seales in front of the wickets, to finish with figures of 12-2-32-4.

Sajid Khan had recorded figures of 32.4-4-85-4 in the first innings and needs two more wickets to complete his third 10-wicket haul in a match in 16 Tests.

Ali Usman extended good support to Sajid on a wicket that offered assistance to spinners, as evident from a six-fer by Jomel Warrican earlier in the day. Ali Usman successfully reviewed the lbw decision against Kavem Hodge (34) and then capped off the day with the wicket of Chase (17).

Earlier, Pakistan’s middle and lower-middle order produced a similarly wasteful batting performance, following a big partnership, when they slipped from 281 for two to 387 all out. The collapse would have been more embarrassing had Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan not added 59 runs for the seventh wicket in 126 balls.

After Sajid’s 72-ball 30, Ali Usman (10) put on 17 runs for the eighth wicket. But when his irresponsible shot brought about his downfall, Warrican removed Ubaid Shah and Mohammad Ali off successive balls to end the innings at 387, finishing with highly impressive figures of 46-8-112-6.

Besides the three he dismissed in a space of four balls, the left-arm spinner also removed debutant Awais Zafar (1) and Mohammad Rizwan (18), having earlier accounted for opener Azan Awais (55) on Monday.

This was Warrican’s third five-for against Pakistan, after figures of seven for 32 and five for 27 in Multan in January 2025.

The hero of Pakistan’s innings was Abdullah Shafique, who strengthened his credentials, status and claims as a reliable, dependable and technically sound batter who deserves more consistent and regular chances. The right-hander, who came in as Shan Masood’s replacement, not only held the innings together, but he refused to panic as wickets continued to fall around him.

Abdullah reached his 150 with his third six, off his 296th ball, in an innings that also included 14 exquisitely timed fours. Overall, he batted for 466 minutes, during which he faced 323 balls and struck 15 fours and three sixes.

This was Abdullah’s third-best Test innings, behind the 201 he scored against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2023 and the 160 not out he made in Galle a year earlier. Abdullah’s other three centuries came against Australia in Rawalpindi (136 not out), England in Rawalpindi (114) and England in Multan (102).

While Abdullah will reflect on his first century against the West Indies with a lot of satisfaction and pride, given it may prove to be the cornerstone of Pakistan’s first away win after eight consecutive defeats, Babar Azam will rue a missed opportunity to score his first century since the 2022 Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in Karachi.

Babar was batting beautifully and looked set to break the century drought before a mix-up with Abdullah led to his run-out. He added two runs to his overnight score of 86 to finish on 88 from 147 balls, with 10 fours and a six.

Together with Abdullah Shafique, Babar added 183 runs from 327 balls. But his dismissal triggered yet another batting collapse, which has now become a trademark of this Pakistan side. In the previous Test as well, Pakistan lost seven wickets for 38 runs in the first innings and slipped to 71 for nine in the second.

Scores in brief (2nd Test, day 3 of 5):

WEST INDIES 344 all-out, 105.4 overs (Justin Greaves 73, Roston Chase 70, Brandon King 46, Shai Hope 29, Amir Jangoo 26, Kemar Roach 19; Sajid Khan 4-85, Ubaid Shah 2-66, Mohammad Ali 2-67, Ali Usman 2-80) and 103-6, 40.5 overs (Kavem Hodge 34; Sajid Khan 4-32, Ali Usman 2-29)

PAKISTAN (overnight 266-2, 66 overs) 387 all-out, 115 overs (Abdullah Shafique 160 not out, Babar Azam 88, Azan Awais 55, Sajid Khan 30; Jomel Warrican 6-112, Shamar Joseph 2-84)