In a historic upset, Pakistan succumbed to West Indies by 120 runs in the second and final Test match of their series at the Multan Cricket Stadium, leveling the 2-match series 1-1. This victory marks West Indies' first Test win on Pakistani soil since November 1990, a 34-year drought finally quenched today (Jan 27, 2025).
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
The match was dominated by West Indies' spinners, particularly Jomel Warrican, who was instrumental in Pakistan's collapse. Warrican finished with a match haul of 9 for 70, showcasing his prowess on a pitch that increasingly favored spin bowling.
Pakistan, set a target of 254 to win, could only muster 133 in their second innings, a testament to the challenging conditions and the relentless pressure applied by the West Indies bowling attack. Finally, the spin/slow pitches created by using Industrial fans backfired on Pakistan itself!
West Indies, after being bowled out for 163 in their first innings, managed a commendable recovery in the second, posting 244 thanks to a gritty 52 from captain Kraigg Brathwaite and crucial contributions from the lower order. Pakistan's batting faltered in both innings, with no batsman able to anchor the innings against a disciplined West Indies bowling lineup.
This defeat has significant implications for Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, pushing them to the bottom of the standings. Meanwhile, for West Indies, this win not only levels the series but also boosts morale, proving they can compete fiercely in conditions traditionally favoring the home team.
The match was a thrilling display of Test cricket, with spinners dictating terms. England faced a heavy defeat on these slow pitches when they last toured Pakistan but West Indies' showed how the job is done on these kinds of pitches in Pakistan.
Brief Scores: West Indies - 163 all out (Gudakesh Motie - 55, Noman Ali - 6/41) & 244 all out (Kraigg Brathwaite - 52, Sajid Khan - 4/76) defeated Pakistan - 154 all out (Mohammad Rizwan - 49, Jomel Warrican - 4/43) & 133 all out (Babar Azam - 31, Jomel Warrican - 5/27) by a margin of 120 runs
