West Indies beat Pakistan in 1st Test: Key stats
A resounding knock by Kemar Roach helped the West Indies win the first Test against Pakistan at Sabina Park. The match went down to the wire as the hosts chased down 168 with one wicket remaining. Jayden Seales was adjudged the Player of the Match for taking a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Meanwhile, Jermaine Blackwood played a 55-run knock in the run-chase.
How did the match pan out?
Pakistan managed 217 after the West Indies elected to field. Fawad Alam top-scored (56) for Pakistan in the innings. The hosts gained a 36-run lead by putting up 253 in reply. Seales picked up an incredible five-for in the second innings as the Pakistani innings folded on 203. Chasing 168, the WI were reduced to 114/7, but Roach's 30* took them over the line.
Youngest WI pacer to take a Test five-for
Jayden Seales has become the youngest fast bowler from West Indies to take a five-wicket haul in Test cricket (19 years and 336 days). He broke a 71-year-old record in the process, as he went past Alf Valentine (20y 41d). Others on the list are Dwayne Bravo (20y 310d), Jermaine Lawson (20y 329d), and Roach (21y 17d).
Double of 1,000 runs and 200 wickets
Roach smashed an unbeaten 30 off 52 balls in the second innings, guiding the WI to victory. In the process, he completed 1,000 runs in Tests. He is one of the few WI players to register the double of 1,000 runs and 200 wickets (Tests).
15th one-wicket win in Test history
This is just the 15th one-wicket win in Test history, also the third since 2019. The astonishing win brought back the memories of the classic (Headingley Test). A 135*-run knock by Ben Stokes powered England to a one-wicket win in the 2019 Ashes. They chased down 359. Earlier that year, Kusal Perera single-handedly powered SL to victory against SA as they cashed 304.
Holder smashed his 11th Test fifty
Star all-rounder Jason Holder impressed with his exploits in the first innings. He brought up his 11th Test fifty while building WI's innings along with Brathwaite. Holder smashed 58 off 108 balls with the help of 10 fours. Earlier, he emerged as the pick of WI bowlers as Pakistan were bowled out for 217. He took a solitary wicket in the second innings.
Other notable performances in the match
Blackwood laid the foundation of WI's victory. He smashed his 15th Test fifty after WI were tottering on 16/3 during the run-chase. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi was impressive, having taken four wickets. He also scalped as many wickets in the first innings. Wi skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (97) slammed his 22nd half-century in the first innings. He could have registered his 10th ton.
