Cricinfo – Pakistan’s batters finally came to life in this Test series, imposing their authority on this second Test. An unbeaten 168-run partnership between Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique saw Pakistan gallop to within 78 runs of West Indies’ first innings total of 344. They did so with a flair and panache that belied the woes that have plagued them in this format of late. Shafique brought up his sixth Test century, and a first since 2024, in the dying stages of play, while Babar closes in on his first in four years, 14 runs away overnight.

The question, after West Indies had posted what appeared an above-par 344, was when, rather than if, Pakistan’s innings would implode under pressure. Even as Azan Awais’s bright half-century got them off to an enterprising start, Pakistan’s supporters have been burned too often to buy the idea that a solid start is a building block to something better. They instead continued to believe there were furtive sticks of dynamite concealed in the foundations, and whatever Shafique and Babar tried to construct could also collapse in on itself.

But the pair shut out the outside noise, building upon confident beginnings before tea in a final session where West Indies were made to grind. After a watchful resumption, Shafique unfurled a pair of majestic drives off Roach to get to his half-century, and neutralising Warrican’s spin while picking him off when he dropped it short.