West Indies completed a dominant 90-run win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the first Test, dismissing the tourists for just 120 while chasing down a target of 211 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The result hands the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and puts Pakistan under pressure heading into the decider.
Pakistan resumed their chase after the tea break at 114 for 9, with skipper Babar Azam batting on 53 alongside No. 11 Mohammad Abbas on 22. The pair managed just six more runs before Jayden Seales removed Abbas leg-before in the second over following the break, sealing the win for West Indies.
How Pakistan’s Batting Collapsed in the Test
Babar finished as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, ending unbeaten on 58 off 107 balls, while Abbas fought hard for his 23 from 33 deliveries. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was the only other batter to reach double figures, contributing 11 runs in a 21-run stand with his captain for the fourth wicket.
Seales was the standout bowler for West Indies in the second innings, finishing with remarkable figures of 5 wickets for 20 runs from 14.2 overs. Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves picked up two wickets each, and Shamar Joseph claimed one.
Earlier in the session, Babar and Rizwan had batted cautiously, adding 21 runs before Greaves bowled Rizwan in the sixth over after tea. That dismissal triggered a batting collapse, with Pakistan losing five wickets for just 25 runs to slide to 71 for 9.
Abbas then joined his captain, and the two put together an unbroken 49-run stand for the last wicket. During this partnership, Babar reached his 32nd Test half-century and helped Pakistan cross the 100-run mark.
Pakistan’s Chase Falls Apart Early
Pakistan’s chase had begun poorly, with Kemar Roach removing experienced opener Imam-ul-Haq for just 3 runs, caught behind with only five runs on the board. New opener Azan Awais added 16 runs alongside Babar before Seales had him caught behind in the sixth over.
Seales struck again soon after, trapping Salman Ali Agha lbw for a duck to leave Pakistan reeling at 25 for 3.
West Indies Set a Testing Target
At the start of the final day, West Indies had resumed their second innings at 126 for 7 and added a further 55 runs with their last three wickets. Having taken a slim 29-run first-innings lead after scoring 311 in reply to Pakistan’s 282, the hosts set a target of 211 for the visitors.
Lower-order batters Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach frustrated Pakistan’s bowling attack by extending their overnight stand to 61 runs. Pace bowler Mohammad Ali finally broke through in the fifth over of the day, deceiving Joseph with a slower ball. Joseph top-scored for the hosts with a rapid 38 off 27 balls, hitting four sixes and a boundary.
Roach eventually fell to Abbas in the 53rd over, holing out to Babar Azam at short cover after a patient 18 from 63 balls. Jomel Warrican then added to Pakistan’s woes with a quickfire 14 from 20 deliveries before Abbas dismissed him to complete impressive figures of 5 wickets for 22 runs from 15.5 overs.
Abbas received strong support from fellow pacers Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad, who took two wickets apiece, while Aamir Jamal picked up one wicket.
With this convincing win, West Indies now hold a 1-0 lead in the series, leaving Pakistan needing a strong response in the second Test to level the contest.