Spinner Sajid Khan claimed five wickets, and Abrar Ahmed took another four, propelling Pakistan to a 127-run victory over West Indies on Sunday’s third day of the first Test in Multan.
Sajid delivered an outstanding performance, recording 5-50 for match figures of 9-115. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed secured 4-27 as West Indies collapsed to 123 all out, failing to reach their victory target 251.
Pakistan’s spin trio dominated West Indies’ second innings, capturing all ten wickets. Noman Ali contributed with 1-42, giving the home side an early lead in the two-Test series.
Alick Athanaze, a left-handed batter for the tourists, scored 55—the match’s only half-century—and partnered with Tevin Imlach to add 41 runs for the sixth wicket. Sajid notably dismissed the crucial Athanaze, while Abrar completed his haul with the wicket of Jomel Warrican.
Warrican, the left-arm spinner, had previously led the tourists’ attack. Pakistan was dismissed for 157 in their second innings, and Warrican scored a career-best 7-32. These figures set a new record for a West Indian bowler in Pakistan, surpassing fast bowler Malcolm Marshall’s 5-33 in Lahore in 1986.
The Test concluded in less than eight sessions, with the first day starting late due to poor visibility. The Multan pitch offered a significant turn, which helped Sajid dismiss several key players, including captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
Noman wrapped up the West Indies innings by trapping Justin Greaves leg before wicket for nine in the session’s final over before lunch, leaving the tourists reeling at 54-5.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan resumed their innings at 109-3 but managed only an additional 48 runs. Warrican’s precise line and length troubled the Pakistani batters, allowing him to finish with impressive match figures of 10-101, marking his first 10-wicket haul in a match.
Read: Pakistan Takes Control with 202-Run Lead in First Test vs West Indies
He quickly eliminated Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, each for a score of two, and continued his impressive performance by eliminating Kamran Ghulam, Noman, and Sajid.
The series will continue with the second match, also scheduled in Multan, starting on January 25.
