Twitter Reactions: Pakistan have the upper hand following Azhar Ali's fifty on Day 2

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the second day’s play between West Indies and Pakistan in Bridgetown:

By Subhankar Bhattacharya

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4 Min Read

Pakistan
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Younis Khan of Pakistan walks off after being dismissed by Devendra Bishoo. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)

Following a painstaking 132-run partnership, the West Indies were once again smothered in the wee hours of Day 2 as the Pakistani seamers ran through the hosts’ tail. Despite being in a commanding position at stumps on Day 1, West Indies managed to add a mere 26 runs to their overnight score, thus losing all the momentum they had gained in a matter of overs.

Skipper Jason Holder made the long walk back on the third ball of the day. Playing his second Test, Mohammad Abbas, got the better of Holder who was in two minds – whether to play it or leave it. Before he could make a decision, the ball took his inside edge for Sarfraz Khan to pouch it comfortably. Exactly 6 balls after Holder’s wicket, Chase offered a tentative prod to an Amir delivery, which flew into the hands of second slip. Pakistan couldn’t have hoped for a better start.

It was only a matter of time before Pakistan did away with the West Indies tail. The visitors had a deficit of lot fewer runs than they might have initially had to deal with. Chase and Holder departing in the first couple of overs in the day meant West Indies were back to square one.

The Pakistan openers then began to consolidate their upper hand. Nevertheless, their batting didn’t exude confidence or attractiveness. Ahmed Shehzad was given three lives; a dropped catch, followed by dismissals off two no-balls meant Shehzad remained at the crease, much to the disappointment of the West Indies dugout. There were phases in the innings when the runs seemed to come to a total halt.

All said and done, Shehzad and Azhar made it past hundred without losing the opening wicket. After coming in for some sharp criticism for their lack of runs, both made a statement by scoring fifties.

West Indies suddenly looked alive when they followed up Shehzad’s wicket with catching the two big fish in the Pakistan side, Babar Azam and Younis Khan. Both were back in the dressing room without troubling the scorers. Three wickets in quick succession forced Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali to play out the rest of the day with some watchful batting.

The final session went West Indies’ way, but the day belonged to the visitors despite their struggle to find runs. A couple of wickets early on Day 3 will tip the scales back in favour of the West Indies. As for the pitch, it is already beginning to show signs of rapid deterioration.

The odd ball is shooting up as it bounces on the seamers’ footmarks, while the Pakistan batsmen have had to dig out some others from ankle-height. Another three days to go and Pakistan are still 140 arrears in the first innings. This match is well poised.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the second day’s play between West Indies and Pakistan in Bridgetown:

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