Pakistan Spinners Dominate as Hosts Clinch Shortest Completed Test in Multan: Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed spun Pakistan to a resounding 127-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test, played on a spin-friendly surface at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The match, completed in just three days, witnessed the shortest men’s Test in Pakistan’s history, with 40 wickets falling across 1064 balls.
The visitors, chasing a challenging target of 251, were bundled out for a meager 123 in their second innings as the duo of Khan and Ahmed wreaked havoc. Khan ended with figures of 6-35 in the innings, while Ahmed’s 5-48 across the match earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
Day 3: Collapse and Fight
Pakistan resumed their second innings at 109-3, looking to extend their lead of 93 from the first innings. However, West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican delivered a sensational spell, taking 7-58 to bowl out the hosts for 157. Warrican dismissed Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan in successive overs early in the day, sparking a collapse. Kamran Ghulam (27) and Salman Agha (14) fell in quick succession, leaving Pakistan reeling. Gudakesh Motie chipped in with a solitary wicket as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 48 runs.
Despite Warrican’s heroics, the West Indies were left chasing a stiff target on a pitch that offered prodigious turn.
West Indies’ Fragile Response
The West Indies’ chase began poorly, with skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (12) departing early, caught at deep mid-wicket off Sajid Khan. Khan struck again to dismiss Keacy Carty (6), while Kavem Hodge and Mikyle Louis were undone by his sharp turn.
At 37-4, Alick Athanaze staged a lone resistance, playing an aggressive knock of 55 runs. He struck boundaries to counter the spinners but received little support from his teammates. Ahmed dismissed Tevin Imlach (14) and Kevin Sinclair (10) before trapping Athanaze leg-before to break the back of the West Indies innings. Warrican, who had fought valiantly with the ball, was the last wicket to fall, bowled out for a duck by Ahmed as he attempted a reverse sweep.
Spin-Dominated Test
Across the three days, spinners took 34 of the 40 wickets, with both teams struggling to navigate the turning track. Warrican finished as the standout bowler for the visitors, while Khan and Ahmed claimed 15 wickets between them to seal the win for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Streak and Looking Ahead
This victory marked Pakistan’s third consecutive home Test win, following their 2-1 series triumph over England in October. The hosts will look to seal the two-match series in the second Test, starting on January 25 at the same venue.
West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite emphasized the need for his team to be more courageous, saying, “We need to learn from this game and approach the next Test with a braver mindset.”
As Pakistan celebrates another spin-powered victory, the focus will now shift to whether the visitors can bounce back and level the series in Multan.
