WI Vs PAK: Babar Azam's One-Man Show Secures Pakistan A Respectable Lead In 2nd Innings

WI Vs PAK 1st Test: From being 65/4 to reach 160/5 and take a 124-run lead on a difficult pitch, Babar Azam showed the way for Pakistan in the 1st Test match.

Image Courtesy: AFP

Pakistan vs West Indies: The first of the 2-match Test series lies in balance at the end of Day 3. Pakistan has a 124 run lead which might not look too much but, in the context of the game, it is a par-looking score given that Pakistan still has 5 wickets to play with. The situation was not the same throughout Day 3. Pakistan had a lead of only 29 runs when Fawad Alam got out for a duck and their score was 65/4. 

Babar Azam's unbeaten 54 runs from 139 balls have kept Pakistan's hopes very much alive in the Test match. Babar has Faheem Ashraf playing alongside him and Yasir Shah and the rest of the tail to follow. With 2 days left t be played, this Test match can go either way. 

Earlier, West Indies won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat first. Pakistan scored 217 runs in the 1st innings where Fawad Alam was the top scorer with 56 runs. Later, the Windies scored 253 runs and took a 36 run lead going into the 2nd innings. 

Day 4 is going to be crucial for both teams!🌴🇵🇰

SCORES📲⬇️: https://t.co/Ag6mEEgRF5#WIvPAK #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/Wxzkyx3Bfv

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 15, 2021

Credit to Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales, West Indies managed to pick 5 important Pakistan wickets but Babar Azam's resilience has been a cause of concern for the West Indian bowlers. Technically, Babar is a sound player who can score off boundaries and defend as well, thus it becomes difficult for any bowler to pick his wicket once he is set. 

Babar Azam leading from the front with the bat, conceding a lead of 36 then Pakistan was 65 for 4 in the second innings and Babar batting on unbeaten 54 runs from 139 balls including 7 fours helped to get a lead of 124 runs with 5 wickets in hand. #WIvPAK pic.twitter.com/0UH8rpIrSA

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 15, 2021

Babar will have to go on for a little longer on Day 4 as the current lead of 124 might not be enough for a good Windies batting lineup.