Multan witnessed a thrilling opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies on Saturday, as spinners dominated and wickets fell in quick succession. Noman Ali stole the spotlight with a remarkable hat-trick, becoming the first Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat in Test cricket.
West Indies Collapse Early After Winning Toss
Winning the toss and opting to bat on a turning pitch, the West Indies batting lineup struggled to handle Pakistan’s spin attack. The visitors crumbled in the first hour of play, with their top order dismissed cheaply. By the 12th over, they were in disarray at 38-7, largely due to Noman Ali’s devastating spell.
The 38-year-old spinner claimed his hat-trick by dismissing Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair, finishing with exceptional figures of 6-41. Despite the early collapse, the West Indies tail fought back valiantly. Gudakesh Motie scored his maiden Test half-century, while contributions from Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican helped push the total to 163.
Pakistan’s other bowlers also contributed, with Sajid Khan picking up two wickets and debutant Kashif Ali claiming one.
Pakistan’s Response: A Rollercoaster Innings
In reply, Pakistan faced similar struggles with the bat. West Indies bowlers made early breakthroughs, as Gudakesh Motie and Kemar Roach claimed two wickets each to leave the hosts in trouble.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel staged a brief recovery, adding 68 runs for the fifth wicket. Rizwan fell just short of a half-century, stumped after being deceived by Warrican’s flight and turn. Shakeel was caught in the deep after scoring a resilient 30, while the rest of Pakistan’s lower order collapsed.
Jomel Warrican was the standout bowler for the visitors, taking four wickets. Motie added another scalp, while Kashif Ali was run out without facing a ball on his debut. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 154, giving the West Indies a narrow nine-run lead at the end of the day.
Tense Battle on a Turning Track
The first day in Multan showcased the challenges of batting on a spin-friendly pitch, with both teams’ spinners wreaking havoc. Pakistan, who won the first Test in just three days by 127 runs, will look to regain control on the second day, while West Indies will aim to capitalize on their slim lead.
As the series continues, the match promises more drama and thrilling cricket in Multan.
