The West Indies were trounced in the opening Test match against Pakistan which is 127 runs.
Match Overview:
First Innings: Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammad Rizwan (71) stood out as Pakistan scored 230 runs. Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali claimed nine of those wickets, which meant the West Indies were bowled out for 137 runs.
Second Innings: Pakistan scored 157 more runs to reach 251 for the West Indies. Sajid Khan took five wickets, and Abrar Ahmed took four, as the West Indies were bundled out for 123. This is Pakistan’s first win in the two-match Test series, leading 1-0.
A thrilling third day in Multan saw Pakistan clinch a 127-run victory against the West Indies to take a Boxing Day 1-0 series lead. A day of thrashed wickets saw 17 batsmen fall over two sessions as Pakistan’s spin trio—Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed—dominated to come away with their win.
Pakistan opened with a weak 230 after posting a modest first innings thanks to Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammad Rizwan (71). But their second innings was a disaster, with 7-32 from a career-best bowler, Jomel Warrican, ripping through the batting lineup as Pakistan’s batting collapsed to 157. But Pakistan’s first-innings lead was strong and the spin attack lethal.
The West Indies began their second innings on the attack but came undone under intense pressure from Pakistan’s spinners. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Mikyle Louis, and Kavem Hodge quickly fell to Sajid Khan, who made early inroads, to leave the visitors 37 for 4. Just before lunch, Noman Ali joined the attack and took a key wicket as the West Indies struggled to 54 for 5.
Alick Athanaze resisted after the break, making 55, the only half-century for the West Indies in the match. But Sajid lured him with a straight delivery, and his gritty knock ended. Brought into the attack shortly thereafter, Abrar Ahmed made an instant impression, ambushing with a sharp turner to dismiss Tevin Imlach. He then picked up two more, including a magnificent catch by Salman Agha at slip to send Kevin Sinclair back to the pavilion.
Athanaze’s dismissal all the hopes for a win from the West Indies crumbled. The ball crashed into the stumps as Jomel Warrican tried to reverse sweep Abrar, whose attempt to reverse sweep Abrar ended up sealing the victory for Pakistan. In reply, the West Indies were bowled out for 123 in 36.3 overs.
Their weaknesses against spin were exposed earlier in Pakistan’s second innings collapse. Shakeel and Rizwan’s strong partnership after the openers came together put on 95 for the first wicket. Still, Warrican contributed in exceptional bowling, grabbing his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. But Pakistan’s spinners bailed them out of their batting woes.
Of course, Sajid Khan’s 5 for 50 was very interesting, plus Abrar Ahmed came away with 4 for 27, and Noman Ali took a wicket. Then they dismantled West Indies’ lineup with much to ponder before the second Test.
Pakistan had the series in their pocket in a match filled with momentum swings and standout individual performances. The West Indies needed to win two to tie the series.
Sajid Khan was awarded Player of the Match for outstanding performance, taking 4 for 65 in the first and 5 for 50 in the second.
