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A stunning seven-wicket performance by West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican has put the visitors in a strong position to chase down a target of 251 runs in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan.
Pakistan were bowled out for a mere 157 in their second innings, with Warrican’s remarkable spell of 7/32 leading the charge for the West Indies. This left the hosts with a deficit of 93 runs to set the visitors a target of 251 to win.
Pakistan resumed their innings at 109/3, but the West Indies quickly made inroads. Vice-captain Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed for just two runs each, with Warrican striking twice in quick succession to leave Pakistan struggling at 113/5 by the 34th over.
Kamran Ghulam briefly tried to stabilize the innings, but he was dismissed for 27, pushing Pakistan further into trouble. Warrican continued his dominance, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul and becoming the first West Indian spinner to take five wickets in a Test match against Pakistan on home soil.
The left-arm spinner wasn’t done yet. He took the wickets of Noman Ali (9) and Sajid Khan (5), leaving Pakistan teetering at 154/9. Warrican then ran out Khurram Shahzad without facing a ball, completing a sensational spell. The final wicket fell to Gudakesh Motie, who dismissed Salman Ali Agha for 14, leaving Pakistan all out for 154 in 46.4 overs.
Warrican’s figures of 7/32 in 18 overs were the standout performance of the day, while Motie chipped in with a single wicket.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan had taken a 93-run lead after restricting the West Indies to just 137 runs in their first innings. Pakistan’s openers, Shan Masood and Mohammad Huraira, had started well in their second innings, adding 50 runs before Huraira was dismissed for 29 by Warrican. Babar Azam followed soon after for just 5, leaving Pakistan at 89/2.
Masood, however, anchored the innings with his 11th Test fifty, and in partnership with Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan looked to build a solid total. But disaster struck when a mix-up between the batters led to Masood’s run out for 52, leaving Pakistan at 106/3.
In their first innings, Pakistan had scored 230, with Saud Shakeel top-scoring with 84 and Mohammad Rizwan adding 71. The West Indies, in their first innings, had collapsed to 137, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan taking key wickets. Noman claimed five wickets, including those of Alick Athanaze and Kevin Sinclair, while Sajid Khan took four wickets, reducing the West Indies to 91/9 before a defiant 46-run partnership between Jomel Warrican and Jayden Seales delayed the inevitable.
Pakistan’s bowlers had dominated the West Indies in both innings, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan playing pivotal roles in putting Pakistan in a commanding position.
Now, with a target of 251 runs set for the West Indies, the match is poised for an exciting conclusion as both teams battle it out for the series opener.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Muhammad Huraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Khurram Shahzad.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach (wk), Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales.
