West Indies Eye 350-Plus Total as Jangoo Backs Team on Challenging Trinidad Pitch

West Indies batter Amir Jangoo believes his side is well positioned to take control of the second Test against Pakistan despite a series of missed opportunities on the opening day at Queen's Park Oval.

At stumps on a rain-interrupted first day, West Indies had reached 239 for 5, with Justin Greaves unbeaten on 64 and captain Roston Chase on 36, keeping the hosts on course for a competitive first-innings total.

Jangoo acknowledged that several wickets fell at unfortunate moments, preventing West Indies from ending the day in an even stronger position.

"We got a good start with Brandon King at the top of the order, but unfortunately we couldn't build on it. There were a few unfortunate dismissals, so now it's about taking the game deep," Jangoo said after play.

Opening batter Brandon King provided early momentum with an aggressive 46 off 50 deliveries, while Jangoo contributed 26. Every West Indies batter who batted on the opening day reached double figures, although only Greaves converted his start into a substantial innings.

The Trinidad-born batter described the surface as slow and demanding, praising Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack, particularly the spinners.

"There were difficult periods while batting. The surface is very slow and doesn't allow you to score quickly. Pakistan's spinners bowled with great discipline, but I think our batters handled the conditions well," he said.

Jangoo believes West Indies should target a first-innings score of at least 350, predicting that the pitch will become increasingly difficult for batting as the match progresses.

"We don't have a fixed target, but we definitely need to get beyond 350 batting first on this wicket. I think we're right on our way there. Day two should still be a good time to bat, so we need to make the most of it," he added.

Reflecting on the conditions, Jangoo noted that the pitch offered significant assistance to spin with the new ball before becoming less responsive as it aged.

"It spun a lot today, especially with the new ball. Later in the day, it spun less, but by the end of day three the wicket should begin to break up. That's why it's important to make this first innings count," he explained.

Pakistan's decision to strengthen their spin attack appeared to pay early dividends. The visitors replaced medium pacers Mohammad Abbas and Aamer Jamal with off-spinner Sajid Khan, while Abdullah Shafique and debutant Awais Zafar came into the batting lineup following Shan Masood's injury.

Sajid Khan dismissed Kavem Hodge, while Ali Usman removed Brandon King as the two spinners maintained pressure through disciplined bowling.

Usman said the bowlers focused on accuracy rather than relying on extravagant turn.

"The pitch isn't turning every ball. When it does turn, it's slow, giving the batters time to adjust. Our plan was to attack the stumps, bowl maiden overs and avoid giving away easy runs," Usman said.

The left-arm spinner admitted he was unfortunate not to claim more wickets after repeatedly beating the bat and expressed confidence of making further breakthroughs on the second morning.

Looking ahead, Usman expects the surface to become even slower as the Test progresses, recalling similar conditions during Pakistan's warm-up fixture at the same venue.

"It became very slow by the fourth day during our warm-up match, making scoring difficult. We need to bat well and secure a healthy lead," he said.

While spin is expected to play an increasingly important role later in the match, Jangoo believes the fast bowlers can still have a major impact with the new ball when Pakistan begin their first innings on day two.