A remarkable 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the second Test in Multan as Pakistan were bowled out for 154, trailing the West Indies by nine runs after they posted 163 in their first innings.
Pakistan's response with the bat was less than stellar, as they struggled to 154 all out.
Pakistan's batting line-up faced early challenges on Day 1 of the Test match against West Indies, as they found themselves struggling at 51/4 after 16.6 overs.
Their' top order collapsed under pressure from West Indies’ seamers, with Kemar Roach and Gudakesh Motie making early breakthroughs.
Shan Masood (15) and Muhammad Hurraira (9) were dismissed by Roach, leaving Pakistan at 22/2.
The pressure mounted as Babar Azam was caught leg-before by Motie for just a single run, followed by Kamran Ghulam’s dismissal for 16, also by Motie. At 51/4, Pakistan was in danger of a heavy collapse.
However, Saud Shakeel (32) and Mohammad Rizwan (45*) provided much-needed stability with a gritty partnership, bringing the total to 119/4 after 34 overs.
Saud Shakeel was caught by Roach off Warrican for 32 runs from 62 balls, with 2 fours, after attempting a flick shot to a generously flighted delivery wide outside off stump.
Shakeel misjudged the ball, mishitting it towards wide long-on. Roach made a stunning diving catch, fully extending to his left and rolling three times in the process, injuring his groin.
Only Mohammad Rizwan (49) and Saud Shakeel (32) provided any resistance in Pakistan's innings, adding 68 runs for the fifth wicket.
The home side lost their last six wickets for just 35 runs as they bundled out for 154 in their first innings.
Spinners Jomel Warrican (4-43) and Gudakesh Motie (3-49) were the standout performers for the West Indies.
Noman Ali's six-wicket haul crumbles West Indies
Earlier, Pakistan’s spinners, led by a brilliant Noman Ali, dominated the first innings on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies in Multan.
The visitors, who chose to bat after winning the toss, were bowled out for 163 runs, with Noman’s hat-trick stealing the show.
He finished the session with figures of 6-41, showcasing his expertise on a pitch offering turn and bounce.
Noman Ali, 38, became the first Pakistani spinner to claim a Test hat-trick, dismissing Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair in consecutive deliveries.
Sajid Khan provided solid support, taking 2-64, while debutant Kashif Ali claimed his maiden Test wicket early in the innings, dismissing Mikyle Louis.
Spinner Abrar Ahmed claimed one wicket for 24 runs, dismissing Kavem Hodge, who was caught by Muhammad Hurraira after scoring 21 runs off 38 balls.
The West Indies struggled against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling, with only Gudakesh Motie (34) and Jomel Warrican (17) offering brief resistance.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (9) fell to Noman after reviewing an LBW decision, which was upheld.
The visitors appeared unable to adapt to the conditions, with loose strokes and missed opportunities adding to their woes.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood expressed confidence in his team’s strategy, highlighting the importance of consistency on spin-friendly pitches. “It’s crucial to capitalise on the conditions and restrict the opposition to a below-par score,” he said.
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