Babar’s unbeaten 58 not enough as West Indies beat Pakistan by 90 runs
Seales and Abbas shine with five-wicket hauls as hosts take 1-0 lead in two-match Test series
By Alam Zeb Safi
TAROUBA: Captain Babar Azam fought a lone battle with an unbeaten half-century but Pakistan slumped to a 90-run defeat against West Indies in the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday, handing the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Chasing a modest target of 211 on the fourth day, Pakistan collapsed to 120 all out in 40.2 overs despite Babar’s resilient 58 not out, with paceman Jayden Seales producing a devastating spell of five for 20 to seal victory shortly after tea.
The defeat overshadowed an outstanding bowling effort by Mohammad Abbas earlier in the day, as the veteran seamer claimed five for 22 to bundle West Indies out for 181 in their second innings after the hosts had resumed on 126 for seven overnight.
Abbas removed Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican after Mohammad Ali dismissed overnight batter Shamar Joseph for an entertaining 38 off 27 deliveries, an innings featuring four sixes that lifted West Indies to a competitive total. Ali and Khurram Shahzad picked up two wickets apiece.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais fell for three each before Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw without scoring as the tourists slumped to 25 for three.
Babar attempted to steady the innings but found little support from the other end.
Mohammad Rizwan managed 11 before Justin Greaves struck, while Aamir Jamal also fell to the all-rounder. Ali Usman, Shan Masood, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali departed in quick succession as Pakistan crashed to 71 for nine.
Babar brought up his 32nd Test half-century from 81 balls and found an unlikely partner in Abbas, who counter-attacked with 23 from 33 deliveries, including four boundaries, in a spirited last-wicket stand of 49 runs.
The resistance ended when Seales dismissed Abbas, leaving Babar stranded unbeaten on 58 from 107 balls with nine fours.
Greaves and Roach claimed two wickets each to complement Seales’ match-winning performance.
The result completed a turnaround for West Indies after Pakistan had replied strongly to the hosts’ first-innings total of 311 with 282, thanks largely to Shan Masood’s 109 and Imam-ul-Haq’s 63.
Earlier, Shai Hope had top-scored with 92 and Kavem Hodge added 84 in West Indies’ first innings, while Mohammad Ali returned figures of four for 50.
Pakistan will look to level the series when the second and final Test begins in Port of Spain on August 2.
