MULTAN, Pakistan – Despite a bruising defeat in the first Test against Pakistan, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite remains optimistic about his side’s chances of leveling the two-match series with a stronger, more cohesive performance in the second Test, set to begin on Saturday at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The opening encounter, dominated by spin from the outset, saw Pakistan triumph by 127 runs, with 37 of the 40 wickets in the match falling to spinners. The visitors struggled on a parched, turning pitch, managing meager totals of 137 and 123 in their two innings.
Reflecting on the conditions, Brathwaite candidly admitted the challenges posed by the pitch but emphasized the need for adaptation and resilience.
“Pakistan is at home, and obviously, they prepared a dry pitch spinning from day one. That’s their right, and it’s their strategy,” Brathwaite noted during a post-match press conference. “It was not an easy pitch to bat on, but we need to perform better. We expect the same conditions in the second Test, so we have to find a way to succeed.”
The pitch’s difficulty was evident, with Brathwaite observing that its dry nature even before the match foreshadowed the contest’s early finish. However, he maintained that victory was within reach if the team delivered a better all-around performance.
Batting woes and strategic bowling
West Indies’ batting was their Achilles’ heel, with the side folding twice under pressure from Pakistan’s spinners. Despite a promising position in Pakistan’s first innings at 46 for four, the bowlers allowed the hosts to recover, with half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan propelling Pakistan to 230.
“We gave them 50 to 60 runs too many in the first innings,” Brathwaite lamented. “The pitch spun from ball one, and we didn’t create enough pressure by bringing the batsmen forward. That’s something we need to fix in the next game.”
On the batting front, Brathwaite highlighted the performance of Alick Athanaze, whose gritty 55 in the second innings offered a blueprint for handling the conditions. “Alick showed how easy it can be if you are brave with your shot selection. But the top six need to bat at least a session. We must find a way to bat better,” Brathwaite urged.
Warrican shines amid the struggles
While the team faltered overall, leg spinner Jomel Warrican was a shining star, delivering a career-best performance with match figures of 10 for 101, the third-best by a visiting bowler in Multan.
Brathwaite was effusive in his praise for Warrican’s efforts.
“It’s great to see Jomel’s hard work paying off. He’s been consistent over the years, and to see him finally get his first five-wicket haul is fantastic. He bowled brilliantly, and I wish him all the best for the second Test,” the skipper remarked.
With the series on the line, the West Indies captain expressed confidence in his team’s ability to regroup and deliver a more polished performance.
“We have to improve in every department,” Brathwaite reiterated. “If we bowl with more precision and bat with more determination, we can win the second Test.”
The second and final Test starts on Saturday, with the West Indies aiming to level the series and reclaim their pride on the spinning tracks of Multan.
