Twitter Reactions: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder lead West Indies’ comeback after nervy start

West Indies ended the opening day’s play of the Jamaica Test against Pakistan after losing Kieran Powell and Nkrumah Bonner for ducks. However, following day two, the hosts have their noses slightly ahead as they are leading by 34 runs with two wickets left in their first innings.

Pacers make the hosts strain

After the two early wickets, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase tried to inject momentum into the innings. The duo put on 50 runs for the third wicket, but Hasan Ali removed Chase for 21 to separate them. Jermaine Blackwood also got a start before Shaheen Afridi removed him.

Kyle Mayers bagged a duck as West Indies were reduced to 100 for five. The home team was still trailing by 117 runs with not much batting left to come. From there on, Brathwaite and former skipper Jason Holder took charge with the bat and guided their team to safer shores.

Brathwaite gets out in an unfortunate manner

They put on 96 runs for the sixth wickets and looked set to cross Pakistan’s score. But Faheem Ashraf found Holder’s outside edge to give Pakistan some breather. Holder perished after scoring 58 off 108 with 10 fours. Brathwaite, on the other hand, already looked set for a stupendous century.

However, a couple of overs after Holder’s dismissal, Brathwaite also perished. The latter, unluckily, was run out on the score of 97. His knock was laced with 12 fours. Kemar Roach also got out later. Joshua da Silva and Jomel Warrican remained the specialist batters going into day three.

Pakistan bowlers bowled well: Kraigg Brathwaite   

Brathwaite was unhappy after his mode of dismissal. He said that his presence until the end of the day would have benefitted the West Indies to a large extent. Brathwaite also lauded the Pakistan bowlers for showing enough discipline

“Obviously not feeling too good (getting run-out on 97), as soon as I returned for the second (sensed the trouble), but I committed to two and then I took off. Probably misjudged it and wouldn’t do it again but from a team’s POV [Point of view] I would have liked to be there at the end,” Brathwaite was quoted as saying after the day’s play.

“Felt good to see a number of drives and I’m very proud of that, have put in a lot of work and just shows that hard work pays off. Pakistan bowlers bowled well and kept it really tight,” he added.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to the day’s play

Kraigg Brathwaite is inconsistent but has played many good knocks under pressure or on tough wickets…wish he had scored a 💯#WIvPAK

— JSK (@imjsk27) August 14, 2021

Waking up to see West Indies having a 34-run first innings lead, with 2 wickets still in hand. Early days to get excited, but if they win this one, it would their first Test win over Pak at Sabina Park in 44 years. Holy lord!! Isn’t this month already historic for sports? #WIvPAK

— Arjun Bhalla (@ArjunBhalla17) August 14, 2021

For me in terms of touch.. this is Kraig Braithwaite best knock of his career…anything " drivable " was driven.#WIvPAK #captain

— Shaq (@ShaquilleSimps7) August 14, 2021

Pakistan bounced back, but West Indies took the all important lead in a low scoring affair on a testing deck. #WIvPAK pic.twitter.com/3TuurbpmaQ

— Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker1) August 14, 2021

Kraigg Brathwaite becomes the first captain to open the batting and be dismissed run-out in the 90s in Test cricket.#WIvPAK

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 14, 2021

First time in 20 years a West Indies batsman is run out in 90s in Tests. Before Kraigg Brathwaite today, it was Ramnaresh Sarwan vs South Africa in Georgetown in 2001. #WIvPak

— #ENGvPAK #SLvIND (@ZAMohal46) August 14, 2021

That's brilliant comeback from WI. Being 2-2 at one stage and now taking the lead of 34 is incredible.

Top innings from Brathwaite, sad though to miss out on a well fought hundred.#WIvPAK

— Kaustubh Mokal (@KaustubhMokal3) August 14, 2021

Good to see the Windies didn't let their 2/2 get them down #WIvPAK

— Peta 🏏 (@crickettragic33) August 14, 2021

I am really feeling for K Braithwaite, Run Out on 97 in a test match is the such a cruel thing one don't even wish for any opposition team player #WIvPAK

— Furqan (@MFurqan72) August 13, 2021

A good day of Test Cricket at Sabina Park! 🏏🌴

And how about the Skipper's knock! 😢#WIvPAK #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/VyHjrvDoxc

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 13, 2021