WI batting line crumble as Pakistan spinners dominate in second Test

Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Noman Ali, fought back strongly on Day 2 of the second Test in Multan, reducing West Indies to 129/5 at lunch, with the visitors now holding a slim lead of 138 runs.Noman Ali was the standout performer, claiming four wickets in a disciplined and skillful spell. He started Day 2 by removing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (52), who had looked dangerous early on, playing some aggressive shots to keep the scoreboard ticking.However, Brathwaite’s luck ran out when Ali flew one, which spun sharply and was expertly stumped by Mohammad Rizwan.Ali’s success continued with the wickets of Mikyle Louis (7) and Kavem Hodge (15), both of whom fell to soft dismissals.Hodge’s aggressive step down the wicket saw him stumped by Rizwan, and Louis was caught at short extra cover after misjudging the line of Ali’s delivery.Amir Jangoo’s promising innings was cut short at 30 when he was dismissed by Sajid Khan, while Alick Athanaze fell victim to a well-executed leg-before wicket by Ali just before lunch, leaving West Indies precariously placed at 129/5.Despite the middle-order collapse, West Indies still hold a slender lead, with Justin Greaves (5*) and the tail still to come.Earlier, on Day 1 of the second Test in Multan, a dramatic 20 wickets fell as Pakistan was bowled out for 154, trailing West Indies by just 9 runs after they posted 163 in their first innings.Pakistan’s top order crumbled early, slipping to 51/4, with Kemar Roach and Gudakesh Motie making early breakthroughs. Babar Azam, Shan Masood, and Kamran Ghulam were among the early dismissals.However, Saud Shakeel (32) and Mohammad Rizwan (45*) fought back with a crucial 68-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Shakeel’s dismissal, caught stunningly by Roach, halted the recovery. The remaining wickets fell quickly as Pakistan was bundled out for 154, losing their last six wickets for just 35 runs.West Indies’ spinners Jomel Warrican (4-43) and Motie (3-49) were the main wicket-takers, leading their team to a slender first-innings lead.