Tuesday 28 / January / 2025
Multan: West Indies levelled the series 1-1 with a commanding victory over Pakistan in Multan.
This was their first-ever win on Pakistan soil since 1990, when they last won in Faisalabad under former legendary captain, Desmond Haynes.
It was a vital victory for the Caribbean nation as it means they finish above Pakistan in the WTC Standings, taking the eighth spot with a PCT of 28.21 compared to Pakistan’s PCT of 27.98.
The match was a tight affair between both sides. At the end of the first innings, West Indies held a slender lead of 9 runs at the end of Day 1, with Noman Ali (6/41) and Jomel Warrican (4/43) being the pick of the bowlers for either side.
However, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite played a resolute knock of 52 (74) to guide his side to 244, giving the hosts a target of 253 runs to win by tea on Day 2.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing their openers within the first 3 overs of their second innings. Babar Azam’s 31 (67) helped guide Pakistan to 76/4 at the end of play on Day 2.
Jerome Warrican was the match-winner on Day 3 as he tore through Pakistan’s batting with figures of 5/27.
He dismissed Kashif Ali in the 26th over of the innings with a stunning bowled delivery and sealed the deal for West Indies with another spectacular bowled dismissal of Mohammed Rizwan in the 42nd over of the innings.
Warrican was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his brilliant performance with the ball, grabbing nine wickets over the course of the second Test and proving integral in West Indies’ first Test success in Pakistan in almost 35 years.
