WATCH: West Indian skipper Kraigg Brathwaite is stumped after massive brain fade during second innings of Multan Test

After twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the second Test in Multan, West Indies made a strong start to the second innings on Sunday. Skipper Kraigg Braithwaite led from the front as he scored a brisk half-century for his side. The visitors started the day with a slender lead of nine runs after a dramatic opening day. 

Brathwaite suffered a massive brain fade moment in the final ball of the 23rd over. The 32-year-old charged down the track to Noman Ali and missed the line of the ball. Mohammad Rizwan made no mistake in taking off the bails as the West Indian skipper made his way back to the pavilion. Brathwaite was out after scoring 52 runs from 74 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. 

Flight and turn 👌

Noman Ali outsmarts the West Indies captain to get an important breakthrough ☝️#PAKvWI | #RedBallRumblepic.twitter.com/e3QSTwxUMy

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 26, 2025

Noman Ali, who had picked up a hattrick in the first innings got the opening scalp of the day. The 38-year-old dismissed Mikyle Louis for seven runs caught by Shan Masood. Sajid Khan then got his first wicket of the innings when he had Amir Jangoo caught by Salman Ali for 30. 

Pakistani spinner hits back at criticism over pitch 

There has been a lot of questions being raised about the pitches being used for the Test series between Pakistan and West Indies. The game ended inside three days at the same venue that saw Pakistan win with ease. More voices called out the conditions in Multan after 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the game. 

Spin bowler Noman Ali hit back at the detractors and as quoted by ESPN CRICINFO said, "Even when we used to have a full five-day match before, fans criticised us a lot. We were criticised saying the results are not coming. But now the results are coming. If the results are coming in two or three days, then I think it is fine. The results have been positive so far, and we'll try that this match also has a positive result."

The 38-year-old also said, “We will try our best to bowl West Indies out quickly because it is a one-innings match. In the first innings, for their last-wicket partnership, the runs that we gave away were a little extra. So, we will try not to give such runs again."

West Indies’ assistant coach James Franklin speaking to the media said, “I don't think it's just the West Indies top order; I think both batting orders are finding it very difficult on this pitch. There's a lot of spin, and a lot of bounce, sometimes it's inconsistent as well. So when you go out there as a batter, I think the first 20-30 balls are very challenging to adapt to the wicket”