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Babar Azam and Fawad Alam lifted Pakistan from a terrible start on Day 1 of the ongoing second Test against West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston in Jamaica.
The visitors had lost their top three batters for just 2 runs before Babar and Fawad recovered their unit from hot waters. The duo went on to add a crucial 158-run stand for the fourth wicket and guided Pakistan to 212/4 at stumps.
Babar played a tremendous knock of 75 runs off 174 deliveries with the help of 13 fours before being dismissed by Kemar Roach. Similarly, Fawad also scored a gutsy 76-run inning before retiring hurt due to cramps.
Highest Test partnership after 3 wickets fell at the same score:
- 158 – Babar Azam & Fawad Alam, Pakistan vs West Indies, 2021 *
- 155 – Tamim Iqbal & Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh vs Australia, 2017
- 147 – Fakhar Zaman & Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan vs Australia, 2018
Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf are at the crease with scores of 22 and 23 respectively. They have put together unbeaten 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
For the hosts, Roach was the pick of the bowlers, bagging a three-wicket haul for 49 runs in his 17 overs. Youngster Jayden Seales claimed one scalp for 25 runs in his 11 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Stumps at Sabina Park 🏏
Mohammad Rizwan (22*) and Faheem Ashraf (23*) lead Pakistan to 212/4 at the close of play. #WTC23 | #WIvPAK | https://t.co/MXEhzUVmcv pic.twitter.com/xevuVkQPjc
— ICC (@ICC) August 20, 2021
Highest Test partnership just after 3 wickets fell at the same score:-
158* – Babar Azam & Fawad Alam🇵🇰 v WI, 2021
155 – Tamim Iqbal & Shakib Al Hasan🇧🇩 v AUS, 2017
147 – Fakhar Zaman & Sarfaraz Ahmed🇵🇰 v AUS, 2018#WIvPAK— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 21, 2021
Not very often these days Pakistan bat a whole session without losing a wicket. Excellent effort from Babar Azam and Fawad Alam after the top order once again failed #WIvPAK #Cricket pic.twitter.com/sBjdI2Sga3
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) August 20, 2021
Fawad Alam is a 💎 He deserves a spot in ODIs to provide the middle order some consistency. He already has a good ODI average.#PAKvWI
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) August 20, 2021
From 2/3 to 136/3, 134 runs for the 4th wicket partnership by Fawad Alam & Babar Azam. This is 2nd most runs by a pair at this position after team lost 3 wickets for less than 10 runs. Clive Lloyd & Larry Gomes had added 237 after West Indies had lost 3 for 1 vs India in 1983.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 20, 2021
Excellent session for Pakistan.. 83 runs coming off it.. no loss of wickets.. It was brilliantly how Babar & Fawad steered Pakistan away from the early blows.. This was a great display on how to apply yourself to break the pressure with patience and grit 👏👏 #WIvPak pic.twitter.com/M2BUuH5pjy
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) August 20, 2021
Babar Azam in the Test series vs West Indies:
Pakistan – 21 for 2, scored 30(64)
Pakistan – 65 for 4, scored 55(160)
Pakistan – 2 for 3, scored 75(174) pic.twitter.com/ohzaeoODtt— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 21, 2021
Everytime I see Fawad alam score runs when team is in crisis, I wonder what if he had started his career earlier🥺🥺💔#PAKvWI pic.twitter.com/LjBnNrJmlD
— Cricket wali baji 🌝💚 (@baji_loves_pct) August 20, 2021
Whenever Fawad Alam perform in tough situation, I thought about that painful decade when he was benched for no reason #PAKvWI
— Shazziya Mehmood (@shaziyaaM) August 20, 2021