The West Indies defeated Pakistan by 90 runs in the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. The victory, achieved just after tea on day four, gives the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Jayden Seales was a key performer for the West Indies, taking 5-20 in the second innings.
Pakistan, set a target of 211 for victory, were bowled out for 120. Their chase began to falter before lunch, with Seales removing Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, and Salman Agha. Justin Greaves also contributed to the bowling effort, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan and trapping Aamer Jamal lbw.
Babar Azam, returning as Pakistan‘s Test captain, was the top scorer for his side with an unbeaten 58. He formed a 49-run partnership for the 10th wicket with Muhammad Abbas, who scored 23. However, Seales ultimately secured the win for the West Indies by trapping Abbas lbw.
West Indies’ Performance and Tribute
The West Indies resumed day four on 126-7 and added 55 runs for their final three wickets during the morning session. Shamar Joseph was the highest scorer for the hosts with 38 runs off 27 balls, including four sixes. Kemar Roach also made a contribution with 18 runs off 63 balls.
Muhammad Abbas was the most effective bowler for Pakistan in the West Indies‘ second innings, taking 5-22. The West Indies captain, Roston Chase, dedicated the victory to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, noting that the win occurred on what would have been his 90th birthday. Chase expressed hope that Sobers would be proud of their performance.
The win marks Pakistan‘s eighth consecutive defeat in Tests played away from home. Babar Azam acknowledged that while his team played well in previous days, their batting unit was not up to standard on the final day. He also mentioned the uneven bounce of the pitch but stressed the importance of building partnerships and surviving the new ball.
Babar Azam’s Captaincy Return
Babar Azam‘s return to the Test captaincy for Pakistan ended in a defeat. He had stepped down from the role in July 2023 but was reappointed earlier this month, replacing Shan Masood. This decision to reinstate Azam as captain for the tours of West Indies and England had been a topic of discussion.
One perspective, shared by Mohammad Amir, suggested that retaking the Test captaincy could place additional pressure on Babar Azam, potentially affecting his batting performance. Amir highlighted the historical pressures faced by Pakistan captains and Azam‘s past struggles with the bat over several years, noting that it had been four years since his last Test century.
Despite these concerns, Babar Azam has a strong record with the bat while leading the team in Tests, having accumulated 1750 runs in 36 innings at an average of 50, with four centuries and 11 fifties. Under his previous captaincy, Pakistan won 10 out of 20 Tests, lost six, and drew four. In contrast, Shan Masood won only four of the 16 Tests he captained.
The second Test of the series is scheduled to begin on 2 August in Port of Spain.
Source: bbc.com
