Pakistani Spinners Deliver Decisive Victory Over West Indies

The second day of the first Test between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan witnessed a dramatic collapse of the visiting side, with the match firmly tilting in Pakistan’s favor. A total of 19 wickets tumbled on the day, highlighting the dominance of spin bowling on a turning track. The West Indies were bundled out for a paltry 137 in their first innings, succumbing to the guile of Pakistani spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. This followed Pakistan’s first innings total of 230, giving them a substantial lead of 93. Pakistan further solidified their position by reaching 109-3 in their second innings at the close of play, extending their overall lead to a commanding 202 runs.

The West Indies batting performance was nothing short of disastrous. Only captain Kraigg Brathwaite managed to reach double figures among the top seven batsmen, scoring a meager 11 runs. Sajid Khan wreaked havoc early on, claiming four wickets in his first three overs, including the crucial scalps of Brathwaite and debutant Keacy Carty. Noman Ali complemented Khan’s efforts perfectly, picking up five wickets for 39 runs, including a clean bowled dismissal of Gudakesh Motie. The West Indies innings lasted a mere 25.2 overs, the second shortest Test innings in terms of balls faced against Pakistan. A late flourish from Jomel Warrican (31 not out) and Jayden Seales (22), who added 46 runs in just 21 balls, provided a sliver of respectability to the otherwise dismal scorecard, pushing the total beyond 100.

The dominance of spin was evident throughout the day, with spinners accounting for 17 of the 19 wickets that fell. The Multan pitch, known for its spin-friendly nature, lived up to its reputation, offering significant turn and bounce for the spinners. The conditions mirrored those witnessed in the previous Test match at the same venue, where England were comprehensively defeated by Pakistan, losing all 20 wickets to the spin duo of Ali and Khan. The West Indies batsmen appeared clueless against the turning deliveries, struggling to read the variations and often succumbing to poor shot selection.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies spinners had also enjoyed success, bowling out Pakistan for 203. Resuming their innings at 143-4, Pakistan lost their last six wickets for just 43 runs. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, taking 3 wickets for 69 runs. Kevin Sinclair chipped in with two crucial wickets, dismissing the well-set batsmen Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammad Rizwan (71), breaking a crucial 141-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This partnership had steadied the Pakistan innings after they lost early wickets, but their dismissals triggered a collapse in the latter half of the first session.

Pakistan’s second innings saw captain Shan Masood lead the charge, scoring a fluent half-century. His 52 off 60 balls provided a solid foundation for Pakistan to build upon their already substantial lead. Masood’s innings was characterized by crisp strokeplay and astute game management, further demoralizing the West Indies. His unfortunate run-out towards the end of the day brought an end to his innings, but by then, Pakistan had already established a commanding position in the match. Kamran Ghulam remained unbeaten on nine at stumps, accompanied by the experienced Babar Azam.

The day belonged to the spinners, with both teams exploiting the turning conditions to their advantage. However, it was Pakistan who capitalized more effectively, both with the ball and the bat. Their spinners decimated the West Indies batting lineup, while their batsmen, led by Shan Masood, built a significant lead. The West Indies face an uphill battle to salvage the match, needing a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes to avoid a heavy defeat. The pitch is expected to deteriorate further, making batting increasingly challenging as the match progresses. The West Indies will need to show significant resilience and improved batting technique to withstand the spin onslaught from Pakistan and avoid a series defeat. The match is poised for an exciting finish, with Pakistan holding a firm grip on proceedings.