MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican delivered a career-best performance with figures of 7-32, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the West Indies from falling to a 127-run defeat against Pakistan with two days remaining in the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed starred for Pakistan. The pair took nine of the tourists' 10 wickets in the second innings.
Pakistan's Sajid Khan, right, celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite. (AP Photo/Asim Tanveer).
Pakistan began day three at 109-3 with a 202-run lead, but Warrican made a statement of intent as he dismissed Saud Shakeel (two) with the opening delivery.
Warrican also claimed Muhammad Rizwan (two) and Kamran Ghulam (27) soon after, as well as Sajid (five), as the hosts were bowled out for 157. Warrican finished with match figures of 10 for 101.
With West Indies chasing 251, Pakistan's spinners then took centre stage again, despite the best efforts of Alick Athanaze, who kept things ticking over with 55.
However, Althanaze - playing in only his 12th test match - was eventually dismissed by Sajid, who finished with 5-50, during a costly final three overs, in which Abrar also claimed Kevin Sinclair (10), Gudakesh Motie (0) and Warrican (0) to take his own tally to 4-27.
More importantly, West Indies were all out for 127, leaving them well short of their target, as the hosts drew first blood in the series.
Data Debrief: Bowlers take centre stage in Multan
For a third consecutive home Test, Pakistan's spinners claimed all 20 wickets, nine of which came from the inspired Sajid.
However, Warrican can take plenty of credit for his performance in ensuring the hosts lost seven for 48 on day three, having registered his first five-for in Test cricket.
His final figures of 7-32 were the third-best for a visiting bowler in Pakistan.
“As long as we get 20 wickets and are able to put in a good performance, we will be happy,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. “We did not know whether in these conditions the ball would spin as it is cold … but our spinners were clinical.”
“The batters didn’t play as well as they should have,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said. “We just have to be brave ... it is important to be positive on these types of pitches. We should still trust our defence. If we can bring it together batting and bowling wise, we can come out on top.”
Despite Pakistan’s third successive home win on raked wickets for spinners, they are at No. 8 and West Indies are No. 9 in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table after both teams underperformed over the past year in tests. Australia and South Africa have already qualified for the June 11-15 WTC final at Lord’s.
The second test, which will be the last for both teams in this WTC cycle, starts at the same venue on Friday.
