MULTAN, Pakistan – In a riveting spectacle of spin dominance, Pakistan’s Noman Ali and Sajid Khan obliterated the West Indies batting line-up, restricting them to a paltry 137 all out on a chaotic Day 2 of the first Test at Multan.
An astonishing 19 wickets fell on the day, leaving Pakistan firmly in command with a 202-run lead by stumps.
Pakistan’s spinners exploited a devilishly turning pitch, with Noman Ali (5-39) and Sajid Khan (4-65) dismantling the West Indies in just 25.2 overs. The carnage left the visitors reeling at 91-9 before a valiant 46-run last-wicket stand between Jomel Warrican (31 not out) and Jayden Seales (22) added a glimmer of respectability to the innings.
“We knew the conditions would favor us, and we just stuck to our plans,” Khan remarked after his stunning spell, which included four wickets in his first three overs.
Early collapse
West Indies’ top-order batters floundered against the sharp turn and bounce. Mikyle Louis and Keacy Carty fell to consecutive deliveries from Khan, with Carty’s dismissal featuring a brilliant catch by debutant Mohammad Hurraira.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (11), the only batter in the top seven to reach double figures, succumbed to an audacious sweep attempt against Khan. By the fifth over, the scoreboard read a dismal 22-4.
The relentless pressure from the spinners saw wickets tumble rapidly, but Warrican and Seales counterattacked with flair. Their partnership, albeit brief, saved the visitors from complete humiliation, propelling them past the 100-run mark. Ali eventually sealed the innings, clean bowling Gudakesh Motie (19) just before tea.
Pakistan, who had earlier folded for 230, seized the opportunity to consolidate their lead. Shan Masood (52) showcased his class with an elegant 11th Test half-century, though his untimely run-out in the fading light was a blemish on an otherwise commanding display.
By the close of play, Pakistan were 109-3, with Kamran Ghulam unbeaten on 9. The spinners’ stranglehold on the match continued, with 17 of the 19 wickets falling to them across the day.
First-innings chaos
The day began with West Indies spinners flourishing in similar conditions. Jomel Warrican (3-69) and Kevin Sinclair (2-61) claimed crucial scalps, including Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammad Rizwan (71). The duo’s 141-run fifth-wicket partnership had rescued Pakistan after a disastrous 46-4 start on Day 1, courtesy of Seales’ fiery 3-27.
Shakeel’s patient 157-ball knock and Rizwan’s aggressive strokeplay were the backbone of the innings, but the lower order crumbled, losing six wickets for 43 runs as the spinners dictated terms.
Both teams entered the match languishing near the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, with Pakistan at eighth and West Indies ninth. With Australia and South Africa already securing spots in the WTC final, the two sides’ struggles over the past year have left them vying for redemption.
