New Delhi: The opening Test between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium was delayed due to thick fog cover but once the weather was clear, it was all action. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat on a pitch that looked like a dust bowl. There was help for spinners from the get-go and West Indies, judging the conditions perfectly, opened the bowling with Gudakesh Motie’s left-arm spin at one end.
If spinners got plenty of purchase from the track, pacers also found plenty of help. With significant movement off the deck, Jayden Seales didn’t need a second invitation to bowl on the spicy track.
Pakistan’s openers respected the conditions and made a watchful start. But the opening stand ended when debutant Muhammad Hurraira was caught behind by West Indies’ debutant wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach off the bowling of Seales.
Seales wreaks havoc in Multan
Skipper Shan Masood followed soon after edging a big turner from Motie down the legside with Imlach taking his second catch thanks to some sharp reflexes. Kamran Ghulam started with a classy cover drive off Seales but the bowler hit back brilliantly, pinging him on the back pad with a sharp inswinger.
Ghulam, who had offered no shot, reviewed in optimism but the umpire’s call stayed in Seales’ favour.
Tottering at 31/3, Pakistan’s innings was steadied by Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam but their brief resistance was ended by Seales.
Repair job by Shakeel, Rizwan
The right-arm pacer got the prized wicket of Babar, who edged the away-seaming delivery to give Seales his third wicket of the morning and left Pakistan in tatters. However, Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan saw through the session without any more damage.
The duo continued to fend off the danger from the West Indies pacers and forged a strong partnership of unbeaten 97 runs. Joining hands in the 14th over, Shakeel (56) and Rizwan (51) batted the whole day, which ended early due to bad light. At stumps on Day 1, Pakistan were 143/4 in 41.3 overs.
Pakistan vs West Indies: Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan saw through the day after Jayden Seals had put West Indies on top in the opening session. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
