HAVING set the West Indies 168 to win in the fourth innings on day four, Pakistan reduced the home team to 16 for 3 at lunch and then 151 for 9 before Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales combined in a 17-run last-wicket partnership to carry the Windies to what can best be described as a ‘Dramatic Victory’ in the opening Betway Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Sunday 15th August 2021.
The West Indies bowled Pakistan out for 217 on the first day in 70.3 overs at a run rate of 3.07, with Kemar Roach 2 for 47 in 16 overs and Jayden Seales 3 for 70 in 16 overs combining to take five wickets, and Jason Holder picking up 3 for 26 from 15.3 overs.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was run out on 97 before the end of play on day two. Jason Holder, 58, helped the Windies to a 36-run first-innings lead, although it could have been an even greater advantage had it not been for Shaheen Afridi 4 for 59 from 21.4 overs and Mohammad Abbas 3 for 43 from 22 overs. The two combined for seven wickets with the other two going one each to Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali.
Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, 55 from 160 deliveries with 7 fours, Abid Ali 34, Mohammad Rizwan 30, Hasan Ali 28 and Faheem Ashraf 20 were the highlights of Pakistan’s second innings. The West Indies pace attack once again impressed to limit the visitors to 203 all out in 83.4 overs at a run rate of 2.42. Jayden Seales claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul 5 for 55 from 15.4 overs, Kemar Roach 3 for 30 from 19 overs and one wicket each to Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder.
With at least an hour before lunch, tall left arm pacer Shaheen Afridi threatened to rip through the West Indies line up taking the first three wickets of the innings inside eight overs.
Kieran Powell lbw for 4 (1 for 4), Kraigg Brathwaite caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for 2 (2 for 15) and Nkrumah bowled off the inside edge for 5 (3 for 16), Roston Chase 22 from 56 deliveries (4 for 84) and Kyle Mayers 0 (5 for 92). Vice-Captain Jermaine Blackwood knock of 55 from 78 deliveries that included 10 fours bought some respectabilitys to the innings before he was caught by Imran Butt in the slips off the bowling of Hasan Ali (6 for 111).
Jason Holder 16 (7 for 114) and Joshua Da Silva 13 (8 for 142) was well caught by his opposite number Mohammad Rizwan who sprinted back and took a fine catch off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi. Jomel Warrican was caught by Mohammad Rizwan for 6 off the bowling of Hasan Ali (9 for 151) which brought Jaden Seales and Kemar Roach together.
The No. 9 Roach and No. 11 Seales held their nerves to take West Indies to victory, with Roach hitting the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 30 from 52 balls which included 2 fours and Seales with 2 from 13 deliveries.
The two teams will face each other in the final Test schedule for August 20th-24th at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
