Pakistan dominate opening day of warm-up match against West Indies XI

TAROUBA: Opening batter Azan Awais and former captain Shan Masood led Pakistan's dominant start against the West Indies XI on the opening day of their warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Saturday.

Batting first, Pakistan finished the day on 184-2 in 60.4 overs as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais provided their side with a steady start through a solid opening partnership.

However, the hosts made the first breakthrough by dismissing Imam to end the 39-run opening stand. He scored 10 runs from 36 deliveries, including one boundary, before Ojay Shields claimed his wicket.

Shan Masood then came to the crease and joined Awais as the pair dominated proceedings, taking Pakistan's total past the 50-run mark with a fluent partnership.

Awais looked in excellent touch as he continued to accumulate runs and brought up a well-deserved half-century. Masood also batted positively to help steady the innings as the pair shared a 108-run partnership, with the former captain also reaching his fifty.

However, the 108-run stand was broken when Masood was dismissed after an impressive 70 from 100 deliveries, including 10 boundaries. Jomel Warrican claimed the wicket to leave Pakistan on 147-2 in 45.4 overs.

Captain Babar Azam then walked to the crease and added valuable runs alongside Awais as the pair guided Pakistan beyond the 150-run mark before stumps.

Awais remained unbeaten on 78 from 189 deliveries, including nine boundaries, while Babar was unbeaten on 14 from 43 balls, including two fours.

So far, Ojay Shields and Jomel Warrican have taken one wicket each as the match heads into the second day with the visitors firmly in control.