Pakistan levels test series against West Indies with a 109-run victory
Shaheen Afridi grabbed four wickets on the last day for a career-best match figures of 10/94, leaving the hosts 109 runs behind.
NEW DELHI — After dismissing the West Indies for 219 on day five at Sabina Park, Pakistan has levelled the two-match series and won 12 World Test Championship points.
On the last day, Shaheen Afridi took four wickets for a career-best match tally of 10/94, leaving the hosts 109 runs short. At the other end, Nauman Ali (3/52) and Hasan Ali (2/37) were stingy, as a number of West Indian players failed to make the most of their innings’ beginnings.
Shaheen Afridi shines with the ball
The first player dismissed in Shaheen’s charge was Alzarri Joseph (17), who was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan after the left-armer found the top-edge of the nightwatchman’s bat. After a successful review by the fielding team, Nkrumah Bonner was ruled lbw by Hasan Ali after less than four overs.
Imran Butt’s impressive catching continued
Imran Butt’s slip-fielding dealt another blow to the West Indies’ prospects of salvaging anything from the match, when he took a low catch to remove Roston Chase for a duck, Hasan’s second scalp.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder resisted but ultimately dismissed
Jermaine Blackwood joined opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite at 73/4 and offered some relief, bringing the total to three figures. The partnership’s downfall came from Nauman’s left-arm orthodox, as a twisting and bouncing delivery forced a Blackwood edge. Pakistan were five wickets away from tying the series after Rizwan took his second catch behind the stumps.
Brathwaite kept going, however it was a break in focus during his four-hour stay at the crease that cost him his wicket, when he sliced a Nauman delivery to Fawad Alam at point for 39 runs.
Afridi struck again, dismissing Kyle Mayers for 32, but Pakistan faced a fresh threat in the form of rain, which threatened to cost them victory. With three wickets remaining to take, a light drizzle prompted an early call for tea, which energised a West Indian team that still had Jason Holder and Joshua da Silva at the crease. The momentum appeared to have shifted back in favour of the hosts, with Pakistan anxious for a scalp, but Nauman’s spin broke the game up, beating Holder in the flight for the all-rounder to spoon a catch to short cover for 47.
Afridi returned to complete the job for the tourists, trapping Kemar Roach in front for 7 runs and dismissing da Silva for 15.
