West Indies defeated Pakistan by 90 runs in the first Test at Tarouba, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Jayden Seales picked up five wickets as Pakistan collapsed to 120 while chasing 211 on the fourth day.
The result stretches Pakistan’s run of away Test defeats to eight in a row.
Pakistan’s Batting Falls Apart in the Chase
Pakistan lost three wickets before lunch and never recovered. Babar Azam stayed at the crease until the end, but he ran out of partners at the other end and finished unbeaten on 58. West Indies’ pace attack took control from the first hour, with Kemar Roach and Seales removing the top order in quick succession. Imam-ul-Haq edged behind to a delivery that jagged back into him, while Azan Awais fell to an away-swinger that drew an outside edge. Salman Agha was trapped in front by a ball that nipped in from over the wicket.
Justin Greaves, who had starred with the ball in the first innings too, added to the damage by bowling Mohammad Rizwan with his first delivery of the innings. He then had Aamer Jamal leg-before, completing seven wickets in seven overs for the West Indies attack at that stage. Jamal had earlier passed a concussion test after being struck on the helmet. Shan Masood, batting with a fractured finger, walked out only after Ali Usman edged behind on debut, and he could manage just one scoring shot before scooping a catch to backward point.
The only resistance came from a tenth-wicket stand between Babar and Mohammad Abbas. Babar reached his 32nd Test half-century before handing most of the strike to his last partner, who swung freely and rode his luck to the second-highest score of the innings. Pakistan reached tea still batting, but Seales struck twice in the final session, including removing Abbas with his second ball after the break, to seal the win.
West Indies’ Bowlers Dominate Throughout the Match
Fast bowling defined the contest from start to finish, with 40 wickets falling to pace across the four days. West Indies were bowled out for 181 in their second innings after Abbas took five wickets, but their total of 211 for Pakistan to chase proved well beyond the tourists on a pitch offering consistent seam movement.
Mohammad Ali had taken four wickets in West Indies’ first innings, but his bowling on the final morning was inconsistent, and extras handed the hosts a small bonus at the start of the day. Shamar Joseph and Roach had extended West Indies’ overnight lead to 155 with a lower-order stand of 61 runs, including a six off Khurram Shahzad.
Justin Greaves Named Player of the Match
Greaves earned the Player of the Match award for his all-round contribution, finishing with figures of 5 for 27 in the first innings, a score of 20 with the bat, and 2 for 12 in the second innings. Seales, playing his fourth Test, took his second five-wicket haul of the match to finish with match figures well ahead of the rest of the attack.
The two teams now move to the second and final Test, with West Indies already 1-0 up in the series.
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