Abdullah Shafique earned praise from top cricket commentators after producing a magnificent unbeaten 160 on the third day of the second and final Test against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday.
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop commented on the innings, looking ahead to Shafique’s next assignment away from home. “Will be curious to see how Abdullah Shafique goes in England. He has a very pleasing temperament and technique. England is always a tough challenge although he has played for Yorkshire for a few games,” Bishop wrote on X.
Harsha Bhogle also praised the batter. Taking to X, Bhogle wrote, “Watching Abdullah Shafique bat. So much class.”
Shafique’s innings guided Pakistan to a valuable 43-run first-innings lead after the hosts, who had won the toss and chosen to bat first, were dismissed for 344 in reply to Pakistan’s 387.
The stylish right-hander registered his sixth Test century and carried his bat throughout the innings, resuming after the lunch interval at 333-6 to help Pakistan add a further 54 runs before losing their remaining four wickets.
The 26-year-old faced 323 deliveries and struck 15 fours and three sixes during his marathon knock. He became only the fifth Pakistan batter to score 150 or more in a Test innings against West Indies on Caribbean soil, joining an elite list that includes Hanif Mohammad, Wazir Mohammad, Majid Khan and Saeed Ahmed.
Earlier in the day, Shafique and Sajid Khan frustrated the West Indies bowlers by extending their seventh-wicket partnership to 59 runs before Jayden Seales provided the breakthrough, dismissing Sajid caught behind. Sajid made a valuable 30 from 72 deliveries, including four boundaries.
Shafique then added 17 runs for the eighth wicket with Ali Usman, who contributed 10 from 21 balls before Jomel Warrican dismissed him in the 115th over.
Left-arm spinner Warrican led the West Indies bowling attack with figures of 6 for 112 from 46 overs. Shamar Joseph claimed two wickets, while Seales finished with one.
West Indies came out to bat again after tea and made early inroads into Pakistan’s lead. Sajid Khan struck twice in the first hour, removing Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 17 and later Kavem Hodge, before Roston Chase and Justin Greaves steadied things briefly. Chase fell in the final over of the day, chipping a return catch to Ali Usman for 17, as West Indies closed day three on 103 for 6.
That leaves the hosts with an overall lead of 60 runs and four wickets in hand heading into day four.
