WI made 244 in their second innings. © AFP Tevin Imlach (35), Kevin Sinclair (28), Gudakesh Motie (18) and Jomel Warrican (18) helped add to West Indies’ lead as the visitors hit back in the second session of Day 2 in Multan. Pakistan picked five wickets in the morning session and the remaining five in the second, but West Indies approached Day 2 with counter-attacking intent and finished with a total of 244 that leaves the home side to chase 254 on a treacherous Multan surface that continues to deteriorate. West Indies scored runs at nearly four-an-over in the morning session but began the second with a new batting pair in Justin Greaves and Tevin Imlach. Pakistan spinners, who ruined West Indies’ show of resistance in the first half of the morning phase by picking quick wickets towards the end, had a spring to their step at the start of the post-Lunch session. All their spinners continued to turn the ball viscously, with Abrar Ahmed breaking through in just the sixth over of the session. He got Greaves caught at backward point while attempting a reverse sweep to leave West Indies six down. From 145/6, Imlach and Kevin Sinclair put on perhaps the most vital stand of their innings, adding 51 runs over the next 13.5 overs to take their lead past 200 runs. West Indies batters still swore by sweep shot as an option to pick quick runs, which brought the end of Sinclair’s innings. Sajid Khan picked up his third wicket, cleaning up Sinclair around his legs. Imlach did exceedingly well to keep the Pakistan spinners at bay in his 57-ball stay, but fell to pacer Kashif Ali. Warrican and Motie then frustrated Pakistan, adding 27 runs for the ninth wicket before Sajid dismissed the latter with a ball from round the stumps that went with the arm and struck the batter on the back pad. Motie reviewed but had to walk back, based on the umpire’s call ruling for impact. An injured Kemar Roach hobbled out to stay in the middle 31 deliveries with Warrican, batting 17 of them himself. Despite Mohammad Rizwan’s cries for his bowlers to make Roach stretch out to defend deliveries, the No.11 batter did well to add to the total. He remained unbeaten as Sajid dismissed Warrican to finish with a four-fer. Brief scores: West Indies 163 & 244 (Kraigg Brathwaite 52, Tevin Imlach 35, Kevin Sinclair 28; Sajid Khan 4-76, Noman Ali 4-80) lead Pakistan 154 (Mohammad Rizwan 49; Jomel Warrican 4-43, Gudakesh Motie 3-49) by 253 runs
