West Indies vs Pakistan: Seales leads 90-run first Test win
Jayden Seales took 5-20 as West Indies bowled Pakistan out for 120 to win the first Test in Tarouba by 90 runs.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Jayden Seales took five wickets as the West Indies beat Pakistan by 90 runs in the West Indies vs Pakistan first Test in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, Reuters reported. The fast bowler’s 5-20 on the fourth day secured the win with a day to spare at Brian Lara Stadium.
Pakistan were chasing 211 after West Indies turned a narrow first-innings advantage into a defendable target. The tourists were bowled out for 120 in a little more than 40 overs, Reuters reported, after collapsing to 71-9 before a late stand delayed the finish.
How did West Indies beat Pakistan in the first Test?
West Indies won the match through seam bowling after setting Pakistan 211 to win. Seales led the attack with his fourth five-wicket haul, while the rest of the pace unit kept pressure on Pakistan’s batting order throughout the chase.
West Indies had taken a 29-run lead after the first innings, then made 181 in their second innings. That left Pakistan needing 211 on Tuesday, the fourth day of the match, according to Reuters.
Babar Azam was Pakistan’s main resistance, finishing unbeaten on 58. He and No. 11 Mohammad Abbas, who made 23, put together a short final-wicket stand after the match had moved sharply in West Indies’ direction.
Shan Masood, who scored 109 in Pakistan’s first innings, batted lower down the order in the second innings after fracturing a finger during his earlier knock, Reuters reported. Masood came in at No. 8 and made three before Seales dismissed him.
What did the captains say?
West Indies captain Roston Chase dedicated the victory to Garry Sobers, the West Indies great who died earlier this month. Chase said the team had spoken before the match about wanting to make Sobers proud.
“We wanted to make him proud and had a chat about it before the match. I hope he is smiling down on us,” Chase said after the win.
Chase also said he liked the team’s direction because contributions were coming from across the side. “We’re not relying on one or two players; everyone is chipping in at crucial moments,” he said.
Babar said Pakistan’s batting was the central problem in the defeat. “Today, as a batting unit, we weren’t up to the mark. We kept losing wickets back-to-back, and the batting failed. That’s something we’re working on,” he said.
The result gave West Indies a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Reuters reported that the second and final Test is scheduled to begin Sunday in Port of Spain.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.