Babar Azam’s search for Test century enters 33rd straight innings

Pakistan closed the second day of the first Test on 199-3, responding confidently to the West Indies.

TAROUBA: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has now gone 33 consecutive Test innings without scoring a century, extending a frustrating run as he continues to search for his 10th hundred in the longest format.

The first Test against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy marks Babar’s 21st Test as Pakistan’s captain and the 63rd Test match of his career. He currently ranks 10th among Pakistan’s highest Test run-scorers.

Babar has scored nine Test centuries in 115 innings, with his most recent hundred coming against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022, when he made 161 runs. Since then, the right-handed batter has been unable to convert starts into a three-figure score.

Over the 42 months since that innings, Babar has played 33 Test innings, scoring 863 runs with five half-centuries.

During that period, he has faced more than 100 deliveries in an innings only twice, highlighting his struggle to produce the long innings that have defined much of his Test career.

Having waited 32 innings for his maiden Test century earlier in his career, Babar is now enduring another prolonged wait as he seeks to reach the milestone of his 10th Test hundred.

Pakistan closed the second day of the first Test on 199-3, responding confidently to the West Indies’ first-innings total of 311 and trailing by 112 runs.

Shan Masood remained unbeaten on 88, while Salman Ali Agha was yet to score at stumps. Pakistan’s innings was anchored by a 155-run second-wicket partnership between Masood and Imam-ul-Haq, who made 63.

Pakistan suffered an early setback when debutant Azan Awais was dismissed for 0, while Babar Azam contributed 23 before being dismissed.

Earlier, the West Indies resumed the day on 194-3 and were bowled out for 311 shortly after lunch. while Shai Hope fell after a well-made 92

For Pakistan, Mohammad Ali led the bowling attack with 4 wickets, Mohammad Abbas claimed 3, Khurram Shahzad took 2, and Aamer Jamal picked up 1.

With seven wickets still in hand, Pakistan will look to erase the remaining 112-run deficit and build a first-innings lead on the third day.