West Indies crumble at Sabina Park
Irrepressible left- arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed a 10-wicket match haul as West Indies failed to break their 21-yearlong jinx of having not beaten Pakistan in a series, by slumping to a 109-run defeat in the second Test yesterday.
Entering the final day at Sabina Park requiring a further 280 runs for victory but more importantly, needing to survive 98 overs, West Indies accomplished neither, collapsing for 219 in their second innings, late in the session to suffer their third defeat in four Tests.
All-rounder Jason Holder resisted with a fluent 47, captain Kraigg Brathwaite produced a typically stubborn 39, while left-hander Kyle Mayers got off the mark for the first time for the series with a positive 32.
And even though vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood chipped in with 25, no batsman passed 50 for the second straight innings, as West Indies lost wickets in clusters during all three sessions.
OUTSTANDING
The 21- year- old Afridi was outstanding, picking four for 43 to end with match figures of 10 for 94, while left-arm spinner Nauman Ali finished with three for 52 and fast bowler Hasan Ali, two for 37.
With the result, the two-match series finished in a 1-1 stalemate, following the home side’s dramatic one-wicket victory last week.
“I still think it is a positive because obviously we didn’t lose the series so that was still good,” Brathwaite said afterwards.
“I thought the team did a superb job in the first Test and obviously we let ourselves down in the first innings of this Test match.
“Consistency is what we need and I think it is a mindset. Test cricket is never easy. All the guys can bat but the quicker we get to that strong mentality as batsmen will be key for us.”
For Pakistan, it was their 11th Test victory over West Indies in their last 20 meetings, with the hosts winning just six, and captain Babar Azam said he was pleased with the outcome.
IMPORTANT WIN
“It was a very important win for us as we lost the first match, and the way we have played … thanks to the Almighty we have won this match,” Babar said through a translator.
“The partnership [in the first innings] with Fawad Alam, that really helped us and of course that exceptional spell by Shaheen Shah Afridi made things easier for us.”
Resuming yesterday morning on 49 for one with the target of 329 of academic interest only, West Indies were set back in the fifth over when night-watchman Alzarri Joseph (17) top-edged a pull at Afridi after adding nine, and skied a simple catch to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan at 65 for two.
Joseph was one of three wickets to fall in quick succession for only eight runs as Hasan Ali picked off Nkrumah Bonner (2) and Roston Chase (zero) cheaply.
Bonner played down the wrong line to one that swung back and was lbw on review while Chase dithered 15 balls before edging to third slip where Imran Butt snared a brilliant catch diving to his right.