Pakistan beat the West Indies by 127 runs on the third day of the first Test in Multan, courtesy of an outstanding job by its spinners. Sajid Khan, the main destroyer, returned figures of 5 for 50, supported by Abrar Ahmed, who chipped in with four wickets for just 27 runs. The West Indies were bowled out for 123, nowhere near the target of 251 runs.
In a game that has belonged to spin so far, every wicket to fall in the West Indies second innings has been to Pakistani bowlers, with Noman Ali adding one for 42. Alick Athanaze shone for the tourists with 55 and a valuable 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Tevin Imlach.
Warrican, the spearhead of the West Indies’ spin attack, recorded career-best figures of 7 for 32 as Pakistan were dismissed for 157 in their second innings. This was the best figure by a West Indian bowler in Pakistan, beating Malcolm Marshall’s 5 for 33 in 1986.
Hailing the performance of the spinners, the captain of Pakistan Shan Masood asked for the improvement in batting. “The spinners were clinical and Abrar with Noman and Sajid was great, said asking more runs from batting line up.”.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, though spoke of self-belief that must come in when the batters struggle. “The batters didn’t play as well as they should have. We just have to be brave,” he said, already looking forward to the second Test.
The game got over in less than eight sessions and the second Test is scheduled from January 25 in Multan.
