Pakistan spinners showcased a remarkable performance in the final Test against the West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The spin-friendly pitch, which had helped Pakistan win the previous match, once again proved decisive.
The day started with the West Indies opting to bat first. However, their batting line-up struggled against Pakistan’s lethal spin attack. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the standout bowlers, completely dismantling the visiting side.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite and six other batters failed to reach double digits. The collapse highlighted the dominance of the Pakistan spinners. Despite losing seven wickets early, Kavem Hodge and Gudakesh Motie tried to stabilize the innings. They finally managed to move beyond single digits, adding some much-needed runs to the scoreboard.
The highlight of the match was Noman Ali’s stunning hat-trick in the 12th over. He dismissed Justin Greaves (1), Tevin Imlach (0), and Kevin Sinclair (0) in quick succession. His outstanding bowling left the West Indies reeling.
Pakistan, leading the two-match series 1-0 after a commanding 127-run win in the first Test, made one change to their squad. Kashif Ali, a 30-year-old fast bowler, made his debut, replacing Khurram Shahzad.
The West Indies also made changes to their side. Injured Jayden Seales was replaced by the experienced Kemar Roach, while Amir Jangoo made his debut, filling in for Keacy Carty.
This series is part of the third cycle of the World Test Championship. Pakistan currently ranks eighth, while the West Indies sit at ninth and last place on the table.
On Friday, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite expressed his determination to level the series. Speaking at a press conference in Multan, he emphasized the importance of resilience and confidence on spin-friendly pitches. He vowed to put up a bigger score in this Test.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Kashif Ali, Abrar Ahmed
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
Match Officials:
- Umpires: Rodney Tucker (AUS) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
- TV Umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
- Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
