Misbah-ul-Haq has no answers after Pakistan collapse to defeat vs West Indies

Misbah-ul-Haq rued Pakistan’s failure with the bat in their chase for victory against West Indies in the second Test in Barbados

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq lamented his side’s inability to cope with West Indies’ bowlers as they slumped to a loss in the second Test. Chasing 188 for a series win in Barbados, Pakistan were all out for just 81 on day five on Thursday. (SCORECARD)

Azhar Ali of Pakistan is dismissed as Shannon Gabriel of West Indies celebrate on Day 5 of the second Test between West Indies and Pakistan at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, Thursday. (AFP)

At one stage, the tourists had been reduced to 36-7, with five players failing to score and Sarfraz Ahmed top-scoring with 23.

Misbah-ul-Haq said batting on the final day was always going to be tricky, as he praised the Windies’ bowlers.

“You can easily say that it’s about batting on a day-five pitch,” he said.

“We all know from the first day that it was going to get worse, so that was the difference. First innings, we should have got a bigger lead.

“And finally, on the last day, West Indies bowled their heart out and we were left with no answers.”

Pakistan had taken an 81-run first-innings lead before Yasir Shah (7-94) triggered a Windies collapse in the second innings.

However, the target of 188 proved too great as the Windies squared the series at 1-1 ahead of the third Test starting on Wednesday, thanks largely to Shannon Gabriel (5-11).

Windies captain Jason Holder said he always felt his team were in with a chance on a tough Kensington Oval pitch.

“It was obviously a very good game for us. It was a collective team effort,” he said.

“I always thought once we could give them in excess of 170, I felt we would be in with a very good chance on a day-five pitch, the way it has deteriorated here.”