West Indies Historic Win
West Indies claimed a dominant 120-run victory over Pakistan in the second and final Test of their series, levelling the contest 1-1. This triumph marked the “West Indies Historic win” on Pakistan’s home soil in 34 years, with their last victory in 1990.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Chasing a target of 254 runs, Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against the relentless pressure of the West Indian spinners. They were ultimately bowled out for just 133 on Day 3. Starting the day at 76/4, Pakistan required 178 more runs to win. However, their fragile batting lineup fell apart in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Kevin Sinclair made an early impact by dismissing Saud Shakeel for 13 runs in the first over of the day. Jomel Warrican followed suit, removing Kashif Ali for a single run in the very next over. By the time Pakistan reached 76/6, the game was slipping away from them.
Shan Masood Reflects
Following the defeat, Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood addressed the result in the post-match presentation. Reflecting on his team’s performance, he acknowledged mistakes but also pointed out areas where the team had improved throughout the series.
Key Moments and Lessons
“The only option left was to bring the fast bowler on and have a crack. They batted well, but that’s something we have to learn. We’ve struggled to get the tail out here, something we did well in South Africa and Australia.”
Masood emphasized Pakistan’s inability to capitalize on key moments, which he believed ultimately cost them the match. “Even in the game we lost, on the first day, we were in a position where we wanted to be. One bad performance led to a domino effect, but you can’t forget the way we played throughout. We realized that one extra partnership can have a big effect on games, and that’s something we need to learn quickly,” Masood added.
Praise and Encouragement
The Pakistan captain praised his players for their resilience despite the batting failures. “It’s a game of all stakeholders, and I appreciate the players for being willing to throw themselves into the den despite not being used to it.”
Masood highlighted some encouraging individual performances throughout the series. “We did win 3 out of the 4 Tests on such pitches, and we did well in the first session here as well. It’s important to see some encouraging signs—when Saud and Rizzy got their fifties, I got a 60-ball fifty in the first Test, and Babar contributed as well.”
Proactive Approach Needed
Masood concluded by emphasizing the need for Pakistan’s players to be more proactive, referencing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s aggressive 50 in the second Test. “We might not get those big hundreds, but we need to take the game on like Brathwaite did. That’s something we need to be aware of and probably improve going forward.”
Indeed, the “West Indies Historic Win” serves as a wake-up call for Pakistan to reevaluate their strategy and capitalize on key moments in future matches.
