Babar Azam denied century as West Indies fight back in second Test at Port of Spain
Pakistan captain Babar Azam was denied his first Test century in four years when he was run out for 88 at Port of Spain in the second and final Test on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. West Indies’ disciplined response left Pakistan 333-6 at lunch on Day 3, still trailing by 11 runs.
Babar’s last Test hundred came in December 2022 against New Zealand at Karachi. Pakistan had resumed on Day 3 at 266-2 and Babar and Abdullah Shafique extended their partnership to 183 before the West Indies took three wickets for five runs. At lunch Shafique was 132 not out and tailender Sajid Khan unbeaten on 16.
The decisive moment came when Brandon King produced a direct throw from short cover to run Babar out for 88 after Shafique refused a tight single; Babar had run partway to the striker’s end and could not recover his ground. King fell awkwardly while completing the throw and suffered a lower back injury, requiring a stretcher to leave the field. The dismissal ended Babar’s attempt to reach a first Test century since his 2022 innings in Karachi.
West Indies tightened the run rate through disciplined spells from left-armer Jomel Warrican and seamer Jayden Seales after Pakistan resumed. Warrican had debutant Awais Zafar clean bowled for 1 when the batter came out of his crease for a big shot and missed the line. Shamar Joseph trapped Salman Ali Agha plumb leg before wicket, and after West Indies took the second new ball Warrican claimed his third wicket when Mohammad Rizwan was bowled for 18.
Babar and Shafique had rotated strike effectively on Day 2 to build their substantial stand, but Pakistan’s middle order collapsed after the partnership was broken. Shafique held one end through the collapse, adding only 25 runs to his overnight 107 as wickets fell at the other end. Pakistan’s score at lunch reflected that late recovery and the setbacks that followed.
West Indies lead the two-match series following a 90-run victory in the first Test; the outcome of this second and final Test will determine the series result.
