West Indies rally around Chase ton

James Richardson
April 30, 2017

The West Indies recovered from a dire position earlier in the day to put 286 for 6 on the board by close of play on day one of the second Test against Pakistan.

The hosts inexperienced top four caved on them yet again with the West Indies finding themselves 37 for 3 early on the first morning.

Kraigg Brathwaite was dropped early on but couldn’t make the most of them life as he nicked off to Mohammad Amir for 9.

Shimron Hetmeyer (1) lasted just a few balls before flashing at one from Mohammad Abbas and finding only Azhar Ali at third slip.

Yasir Shah was able to work some tricks on day one and would be rewarded with the wicket of Shai Hope (5).

Opener Kieron Powell (38) weathered the storm along with Chase and got the West Indies through to lunch at 72 for 3 but fell shortly after the hundred came up and when Vishaul Singh (3) fell just three overs later the West Indies were in all sorts of trouble.

Chase (131*) dug in however on his home ground first adding 47 with Shane Dowrich (29) before establishing a big stand with skipper Jason Holder.

The Barbadian allrounder Chase went to his second Test century and is making a habit of pulling the West Indies out of tricky situations.

He and the skipper put on an unbroken stand of 132 with Holder recording and unbeaten 58 by the time stumps were drawn.

Abbas returned figures of 2 for 47 to be the pick of the bowlers while Amir also bagged two scalps and leggies Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan gathered one each.

Exactly what position the West Indies find themselves in will depend on how well Pakistan cope with the surface when they bat.