West Indies earn slender lead over Pakistan in 2nd Multan Test after Noman hat trick

Published January 25, 2025
Pakistan’s Salman Agha (R) is clean bowled by West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25. — AFP
Pakistan’s Salman Agha (R) is clean bowled by West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25. — AFP
Noman Ali celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kemar Roach during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25. — AFP
Noman Ali celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kemar Roach during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25. — AFP
West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam (R) during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25, 2025. — AFP
West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam (R) during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 25, 2025. — AFP

The West Indies gained a slender nine-run lead over Pakistan on Saturday as spinners dominated the opening day of the second Test in Multan, with Noman Ali achieving a hat trick for the home side.

Jomel Warrican took 4-43 and Gudakesh Motie 3-49 as Pakistan were bowled out for 154 at the close, replying to the West Indian first innings total of 163.

Left-armer Noman became the first Pakistan spinner to register a Test hat trick during his 6-41 as the West Indies were bowled out at the stroke of lunch in 41.1 overs, having won the toss and batted.

But the visitors hit back with a blitz of their own as 16 wickets fell to spinners — the most by that type of bowling on the opening day of a Test.

The previous record was 14 between England and South Africa at Leeds in 1907.

Only Mohammad Rizwan (49) and Saud Shakeel (32) batted with confidence for the home side, adding 68 for the fifth wicket before Pakistan slumped from 119-4 to 154 all out —losing the last six wickets for 35 runs.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach dismissed openers Muhammad Hurraira (nine) and Shan Masood (15), while Motie sent back Babar Azam (one) and Kamran Ghulam (16) to leave Pakistan at 51-4.

In the post-tea session, Shakeel was smartly caught in the deep by Roach — who hurt his groin but completed the catch — while Rizwan was stumped, both falling to Warrican.

Left reeling

Motie had Salman Agha for nine while the last man Kashif Ali was run out without scoring.

Earlier, the West Indies were left reeling at 7-38 with Sajid Khan 2-64 and Noman doing the damage.

It could have been worse for the tourists had Motie who top scored with a career-best 55 — not added an invaluable 68 runs for the last wicket with Warrican, who scored 36 not out with two sixes.

Motie also added 41 for the ninth wicket with Roach (25) to delay the lunch break before Noman grabbed the last two wickets for his eighth five-wicket haul in an innings.

Pakistan employed the same spin-heavy tactics which earned them a 127-run win in the first Test — also in Multan — with the ball turning from the first over.

Noman came on to bowl as the first change, and trapped West Indian skipper Kraigg Brathwaite leg before for nine to spark a collapse which saw the tourists slump from 32-2 to 38-8 off just 14 deliveries.

Noman dismissed Justin Greaves for one, then Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair off successive deliveries to become the fifth Pakistan bowler to grab a Test hat trick.

Fast bowlers Wasim Akram (two hat tricks against Sri Lanka in 1999), Abdul Razzaq (against Sri Lanka in 2000), Mohammad Sami (also against Sri Lanka, in 2002), and Naseem Shah (against Bangladesh in 2020) achieved the feat for Pakistan previously.

Off-spinner Sajid dismissed debutant Amir Jangoo and Alick Athanaze — both without scoring — while Abrar Ahmed accounted for Kavem Hodge for 21.

Debutant pacer Kashif had Mikyle Louis for four in his first over.

Opinion

Editorial

Kabul visit
Updated 26 Mar, 2025

Kabul visit

Islamabad should continue to emphasise that presence of terrorists on Afghan soil stands in the way of normal commercial ties.
Drought warning
26 Mar, 2025

Drought warning

DRIVEN by rising temperatures linked to climate change, increasing drought events across Pakistan have affected tens...
Deadly roads
26 Mar, 2025

Deadly roads

DESPITE daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles, Karachi continues to witness one horrific traffic accident after...
Shortcut tactics
Updated 25 Mar, 2025

Shortcut tactics

IMF’s decision to veto move to reduce retail power tariffs seems to be against interests of middle-class consumers.
Unforced error
Updated 25 Mar, 2025

Unforced error

State must not push ordinary citizens away with its excesses when dealing with Balochistan.
Losing again
25 Mar, 2025

Losing again

WHEN Pakistan’s high-risk Twenty20 approach did not work, there was no fallback plan and they collapsed in a heap...