In a historic turn of events, the West Indies cricket team secured a remarkable 120-run victory over Pakistan in the second Test at Multan, marking their first Test win on Pakistani soil since 1990. This triumph not only leveled the two-match series at 1-1 but also ended a 35-year drought for the Caribbean side in Pakistan.
The match concluded within three days, with West Indies' spinner Jomel Warrican delivering a stellar performance. Warrican claimed five wickets in Pakistan's second innings, bringing his tally to nine wickets in the match and 19 in the series. His exceptional bowling dismantled the Pakistani batting lineup, which was dismissed for a mere 133 runs in their second innings.
In the match, West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first. However, they soon regretted their decision as Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali ripped apart the West Indian top and middle order, leaving them reeling at 54 for 8 at one point. But the visitors, with the help of a half-century from Gudakesh Motie (55) and handy cameos by Kemar Roach (25) and Jomel Warrican (36 not out), managed to get past the 150-run mark, finishing with 163 on the board before being all out.
Pakistan’s reply in the first innings was far from ideal as they lost their top four with just 51 runs on the board. Mohammad Rizwan (49) and Saud Shakeel (32) tried to revive the innings by adding 68 runs for the fifth wicket, but the hosts lost their last six wickets while adding just 34 runs. West Indies bundled them out for 154, taking a crucial nine-run lead in the first innings.
West Indies, in their second innings, with contributions from skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (52) and Amir Jangoo (30) at the top, and Tevin Imlach (35) and Kevin Sinclair (28) in the lower order, posted 244 runs to set Pakistan a challenging target of 254 runs on a bowler-friendly pitch.
Pakistan’s second innings was almost a mirror image of their first. Apart from Babar Azam (31) and Mohammad Rizwan (25), no other batter managed to breach the 20-run mark. The hosts were eventually bundled out for just 133, handing West Indies an easy 120-run victory, while the series ended in a 1-1 draw.
The recent victory in Multan not only highlights the unpredictable and thrilling nature of Test cricket but also adds a significant chapter to the storied rivalry between Pakistan and the West Indies.The last time West Indies tasted Test victory in Pakistan was during the 1990/91 series. In that series, Pakistan clinched the first Test in Karachi by eight wickets, while West Indies bounced back to win the second Test in Faisalabad by seven wickets. The series concluded in a 1-1 draw after the third Test in Lahore ended without a result.
Over the decades, Pakistan and West Indies have shared a competitive Test rivalry. According to ESPNcricinfo, the two teams have faced each other in multiple series, with varying outcomes:
Overall, in Test cricket, Pakistan and West Indies have faced each other in 55 matches. Pakistan has won 22 of these encounters, while West Indies has emerged victorious in 18, with 15 matches ending in draws.
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