The West Indies bowlers stepped up superbly to skittle Pakistan out for just 217. It was Fawad Alam who top-scored for Pakistan with 56 and helped them go past the 200-mark. Mohammad Abbas struck early for Pakistan and picked up two early wickets to reduce West Indies to 2/2.
It was a day where the bowlers dominated throughout. The West Indies bowlers produced an all-round effort to shoot Pakistan out for a mere 217 before Mohammad Abbas struck back to restore parity in the game.
West Indies won the toss and inserted Pakistan into bat first. The new-ball bowlers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales were superb in their first spell. They bowled with great discipline and troubled the Pakistan batters before reaping the rewards. Roach knocked over Imran Butt before Abid Ali nicked one to the keeper off Seales.
Rain forced the umpires to take early lunch but once play resumed, Pakistan’s No. 3 and 4, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam began the resurrection. Run scoring wasn’t easy as the West Indies bowlers kept it extremely tight. The duo added 47 runs for the third wicket before Ali edged one to second slip to give Seales his second. Azam followed in the very next over as Roach got rid of the Pakistan skipper.
Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan then started rebuilding again and the latter, in particular, looked fluent enough. However, Rizwan chipped one straight to square-leg to leave Pakistan reeling at 101/5. That’s when Faheem Ashraf and Alam revived the innings for Pakistan. The left-handed duo shared an 85-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Alam recorded a fighting half-century while Ashraf scored a handy 44. However, when things were going well for Pakistan, an unnecessary runout changed the tide once again. Roston Chase hit the stumps direct from square-leg to catch Ashraf short of his ground. Kyle Mayers then got rid of Yasir Shah to get his first wicket of the game before Seales and Holder wrapped up the innings, sharing the last three wickets between them.
Pakistan folded for 217. Seales and Holder finished with three wickets each while Roach picked up two. Alam top-scored for Pakistan with 56.
In reply, Pakistan hit back strongly. Mohammad Abbas dismissed Kieran Powell and Nkrumah Bonner off successive deliveries in the third over to leave West Indies reeling at 2/2. Powell edged one to second slip before Bonner was trapped LBW.
Those two wickets at the end spoilt what could’ve been an excellent day for the West Indies. Pakistan have crawled their way back into this contest.
Brief scores
Pakistan 217 (Alam 56, Ashraf 44, Jayden Seales 3/70, Holder 3/26) vs West Indies 2/2 (Abbas 2/0)
