Jayden Seales’ five-for powers West Indies to 90-run win over Pakistan in first Test
West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series after defeating Pakistan by 90 runs in the opening match of the two-match series at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Fast bowler Jayden Seales was the star performer, claiming five wickets in the second innings as Pakistan were bowled out for 120 while chasing 211. Seales finished with figures of 5/20.Pakistan’s batting collapsed quickly as they slipped to 71/9. However, captain Babar Azam and No. 11 Mohammad Abbas delayed the West Indies victory with a 49-run partnership for the final wicket.Abbas scored 23 before Seales dismissed him shortly after the tea break on Day 4, bringing an end to Pakistan’s fight.
Babar stands tall in defeat
Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 58 and completed his 32nd Test half-century, but the Pakistan captain received little support from his teammates.Babar reached his fifty from 81 balls when Pakistan were already struggling at 88/9. The other batters had managed only 38 runs between them.After the defeat, Babar admitted Pakistan’s batting was not good enough.“We played good cricket in the last few days but today we were not up to the mark as a batting unit. We lost back-to-back wickets. We will look to make sure it doesn’t happen in the next matches,” Babar said.The second Test of the series will begin on Sunday.
Pakistan suffer another batting collapse
Pakistan’s second innings defeat reflected their first innings problems.After reaching 244/4, Pakistan lost six wickets for just 38 runs and were dismissed for 282, handing West Indies a 29-run first-innings lead.West Indies had posted 311 in their first innings.Apart from Shan Masood’s century and half-centuries from Imam-ul-Haq (63) and Babar Azam, Pakistan’s batting lacked consistency. Across both innings, only six Pakistan batters managed to score in double figures.Masood’s injury made things more difficult for Pakistan. After hurting his hand in the first innings, he was forced to bat at No. 8 instead of his usual No. 3 position.
West Indies build a match-winning lead
West Indies resumed Day 4 at 126/7 with a lead of 155 runs. Shamar Joseph added 16 runs to his overnight score of 22, while Kemar Roach contributed 13 as West Indies pushed their advantage beyond 200.The target proved too much for Pakistan as Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for just three runs early in the chase.Babar tried to anchor the innings, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to provide support. Among Pakistan’s top six, only Mohammad Rizwan crossed double figures with a score of 11.
Seales and Greaves lead West Indies attack
Seales received good support from Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves, who picked up two wickets each.The pacer completed his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket when he trapped Abbas lbw in the 41st over.Greaves was named Player of the Match after his impressive performance. He had taken 5/27 in Pakistan’s first innings.For Pakistan, Abbas was the standout performer with the ball, taking 3/63 and 5/22 in the two West Indies innings.
