PAK vs WI: Spin-trio help Pakistan hammer clueless West Indies in 1st Test

Pakistan continued their impressive run at home after hammering West Indies in the opening Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Carrying on from their 2-1 series win over England last year, Shan Masood and Co. registered a 127-run win on the third day to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Sajid Khan, who returned to the Pakistan setup after missing the South Africa tour, won the Player of the Match award for picking up nine wickets in the game.

At Stumps on Day 2, Pakistan were slightly ahead as they trailed by 202 runs with seven wickets in hand. In the morning session on the third day, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for only 48 runs after Jomel Warrican ran through their batting line-up. Shan Masood and Muhammad Hurraira had laid the platform with a partnership of 67 runs for the opening wicket, but Pakistan couldn’t capitalise on the stupendous start.

Jomel Warrican starred for the West Indies after he finished with incredible figures of 18-3-32-7. On the back of Hurraira and Masood’s partnership, and Kamran



Ghulam’s handy 27-run knock, Pakistan set the visitors a challenging target of 251 to chase. Gudakesh Motie got the other wicket of Salman Ali Agha.

In their run-chase, West Indies were blown away by the spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Sajid Khan as the Caribbean team was bowled out for 123 in 36.3 overs. Noman Ali, who picked up five wickets in the first innings, got only one wicket. Sajid drew first blood after getting rid of Kraigg Brathwaite. From there on, barring Alick Athanaze, none of the West Indies batters could get the measure of Pakistan’s bowling.

Athanaze scored 55 runs off 68 balls with seven fours before Sajid trapped him plumb in front. Sajid was their star performer in the second innings after he finished with figures of 15-3-50-5. Abrar got only a solitary wicket in the first innings, but lent support to Sajid with four wickets for only 27 runs.

Pakistan will be looking to finish their campaign in the 2023-25 World Test Championship with a 2–0 series win when the second Test starts on January 25.