West Indies claimed a convincing 90-run win against Pakistan in the first Test on Tuesday, bowling the visitors out for just 120 while defending a target of 211. The result handed the hosts a 1-0 series lead in the two-match contest at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Pakistan resumed their chase after tea at 114 for 9, with captain Babar Azam unbeaten on 53 and number 11 Mohammad Abbas on 22. The pair managed only six more runs before Jayden Seales trapped Abbas lbw early in the second over after the break. Babar remained not out on a solid 58 from 107 balls, while Abbas contributed a defiant 23. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was the only other batter to reach double figures, scoring 11.
Seales led the West Indies attack with outstanding figures of 5 for 20 from 14.2 overs. Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves took two wickets each, and Shamar Joseph claimed one. Earlier, Babar and Rizwan had added 21 for the fourth wicket before Greaves bowled Rizwan. Pakistan then collapsed, losing five wickets for just 25 runs to slide to 71 for 9. Babar and Abbas then shared a fighting 49-run last-wicket stand that took the total past 100 and saw Babar complete his 32nd Test half-century.
The chase had started poorly. Kemar Roach dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for 3 with the score on 5. Azan Awais also fell for 3, caught behind off Seales, before the same bowler trapped Salman Ali Agha lbw for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 25 for 3.
Earlier on the final day, West Indies resumed their second innings at 126 for 7 and added 55 more runs. Shamar Joseph top-scored with a brisk 38 from 27 balls, including four sixes. Mohammad Abbas finished with excellent figures of 5 for 22, supported by Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad who took two wickets each.
Having taken a slim 29-run first-innings lead after scoring 311 and dismissing Pakistan for 282, West Indies set a challenging target of 211. Their lower-order resistance and disciplined bowling proved decisive, giving the home side a strong start to the series.
