Sherdon Cowan- West Indies bowlers Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, and Kemar Roach again showed glimpses of their all-round potential as the three combined to secure the Caribbean side a narrow nine-run lead on day one of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan.
Despite being bowled out for 163 earlier in the day, the Caribbean side showcased their resilience by restricting Pakistan for 154 in an enthralling contest on a spin-friendly wicket on Saturday.
West Indies’ highest total of the series was built on a gritty lower-order fightback led by Motie, who scored a maiden Test half-century with 55, supported by Kemar Roach (25) and Jomel Warrican’s unbeaten 36. West Indies’ bottom three made history last Test when numbers 9, 10, and 11 became the three highest scorers in an innings for the first team ever, and they repeated the feat this Test.
In response, Pakistan faltered as spinners Motie (3-49) and Warrican (4-42) exploited the conditions, with Roach chipping in with 2-15.
Scores: West Indies 163 (Motie 55, Warrican 36*, Noman 6-41) lead Pakistan 154 (Rizwan 49, Warrican 4-43, Motie 3-49) by nine runs
Winning the toss and opting to bat, West Indies found themselves in early trouble as Pakistan’s spinners, led by Noman Ali (6-41), tore through the top order.
Ali claimed a sensational hat-trick—the first Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat in Tests—as he dismissed Justin Greaves (one), Tevin Imlach (zero), and Kevin Sinclair (zero) in successive deliveries to reduce West Indies to 38-7. Kavem Hodge (21) followed 16 runs later to Abrar Ahmed.
However, Motie, Roach, and Warrican staged a remarkable recovery. Motie and Roach added 41 for the ninth wicket before the latter fell to Ali. Warrican then joined Motie for a vital 63-run last-wicket stand.
Mixing patience with aggression, the pair guided West Indies past 137, their highest score of the series, as Motie shut the spinners out while Warrican gave them whacks from the other end, before the former’s dismissal on the stroke of lunch.
Ali’s 6-41 was complemented by Sajid Khan’s 2-64.
Pakistan’s innings mirrored West Indies’ struggles, as they slumped to 51-4 within the first hour. Roach struck twice, removing Muhammad Hurraira (nine) and Shan Masood (15), while Motie bowled Babar Azam (one), with a delivery that kept low, and Kamran Ghulam (16).
Saud Shakeel (32) and Mohammad Rizwan (49) provided resistance with a 68-run fifth-wicket partnership. However, Warrican dismissed both in quick succession to trigger a collapse, as Pakistan lost their last four wickets for just 24 runs, with Motie and Warrican cleaning up the tail.
With the match already providing gripping action and evenly poised, both teams will look to capitalize on the slim margins on Sunday’s second day as West Indies will commence their second innings.
