West Indies vs Pakistan: West Indies Beat Pakistan by 90 Runs in 1st Test, Take 1-0 Lead as Jayden Seales Stars
The result was particularly significant for West Indies because it marked their first Test victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. It was also only their second win in their last 11 Tests. For Pakistan, meanwhile, the defeat extended a difficult overseas run to eight consecutive Test losses, with their last away Test victory coming against Sri Lanka in July 2023.
West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test: How the Match Unfolded
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first, expecting the surface to become more difficult as the match progressed. The decision proved valuable as the hosts managed to post 311 runs in their first innings.
Kavem Hodge played a crucial role with a determined 84, while Shai Hope contributed a fluent 92. Their efforts helped West Indies establish a competitive first-innings total despite Pakistan’s bowlers finding movement from the surface.
Pakistan responded with 282, with Shan Masood producing one of the standout performances of the match by scoring a fighting century. However, the visitors could not convert their strong individual contributions into a decisive first-innings advantage.
The momentum shifted dramatically when West Indies returned to bat. They were dismissed for 181, leaving Pakistan a target of 211 runs to win the Test.
That target appeared achievable, but West Indies’ fast bowlers produced another outstanding performance in the final innings.
Pakistan Collapse in Fourth Innings
Pakistan’s chase began with hope, but wickets fell regularly as West Indies maintained pressure with disciplined pace bowling.
Babar Azam scored 58 off 107 balls, providing Pakistan’s only substantial resistance during the chase. However, he lacked the partnership support required to take the visitors close to the target.
Pakistan eventually collapsed for just 120, falling 90 runs short of the target.
Jayden Seales was the chief destroyer. The West Indies pacer finished with a five-wicket haul and claimed the final wicket to complete the victory. His performance was particularly impressive given the pressure of defending a modest fourth-innings target.
Jayden Seales Completes Match-Winning Five-Wicket Haul
Jayden Seales played a decisive role in West Indies’ victory. His five-wicket haul in the fourth innings completed the job after Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against the hosts’ pace attack.
Seales now has 20 wickets in four Tests against Pakistan, averaging 17.25, with two five-wicket hauls. This was also his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
The performance made him the first West Indies pacer since Jason Holder in 2018 to take a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings of a home Test.
Justin Greaves Makes History in First Test at Brian Lara Stadium
Justin Greaves was another major contributor to West Indies’ historic victory. He produced a memorable spell during Pakistan’s first innings, taking five successive wicket maidens and completing his maiden Test five-wicket haul.
Greaves explained after the match that he studied Mohammad Abbas’ bowling and attempted to replicate the Pakistani pacer’s fuller lengths.
His spell proved crucial because it prevented Pakistan from building a significant first-innings lead and helped West Indies retain control of the contest.
All 40 Wickets Fell to Fast Bowlers
One of the most remarkable statistics from the West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test was that all 40 wickets in the match were taken by pace bowlers.
The match joined a small group of Tests in which every wicket has fallen to fast bowlers. It was also the first time West Indies pacers took all 20 Pakistan wickets in a Test.
The conditions offered enough movement and uneven bounce to keep the seamers involved throughout the match. By the fourth day, the ball was also keeping slightly low at times, making life increasingly difficult for Pakistan’s batters.
Babar Azam Admits Pakistan’s Batting Was Not Good Enough
Pakistan captain Babar Azam acknowledged that his side’s batting performance in the final innings was below the required standard.
Babar said the surface was playable but credited West Indies for bowling exceptionally well and exploiting the conditions. He also pointed to the lack of partnerships as one of the main reasons for Pakistan’s defeat.
The Pakistan captain also revealed that Shan Masood suffered a finger fracture, which affected the team’s batting resources.
Babar himself scored 58 off 107 balls, but the innings ended without enough support from the other end.
Pakistan’s Eighth Straight Overseas Test Defeat
The loss has extended Pakistan’s worrying overseas record.
Pakistan have now lost eight consecutive away Tests since their last overseas victory in Sri Lanka in July 2023. It is their longest losing streak in overseas Tests.
The result adds further pressure on Pakistan as the team looks to rebuild its red-ball campaign and collect valuable World Test Championship points.
West Indies End Another Difficult Test Run
For West Indies, the victory was equally important.
The hosts had won only once in their previous 10 Tests before this match, with seven defeats and two draws during that period. Their win against Pakistan therefore represents a major boost after their recent victory over Sri Lanka.
Captain Roston Chase praised the team’s collective effort and said the victory was built around contributions from different players rather than dependence on one or two individuals.
Roston Chase Dedicates Victory to Sir Garfield Sobers
The Test began on an emotional note following the passing of West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers.
West Indies players wore black armbands and both teams observed a minute’s silence in his memory.
After the victory, captain Roston Chase dedicated the historic win to Sobers, saying the team had wanted to make the legendary cricketer proud.
The victory on the occasion of Sobers’ birth anniversary added another emotional layer to an already historic match.
Shan Masood’s Century Not Enough for Pakistan
Shan Masood’s century was one of Pakistan’s biggest positives from the Test. His fighting knock helped Pakistan stay competitive after West Indies’ first-innings 311.
However, his injury later became a major concern for Pakistan. With his finger fractured, the visitors missed his presence during a crucial stage of the match.
The lack of partnerships ultimately proved costly, particularly during the fourth innings when Pakistan needed to chase 211.
West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test: Key Stats
- Result: West Indies won by 90 runs
- Series: West Indies lead 1-0
- West Indies: 311 & 181
- Pakistan: 282 & 120
- Fourth-innings target: 211
- Babar Azam: 58 off 107 balls
- Kavem Hodge: 84
- Shai Hope: 92
- Jayden Seales: Five-wicket haul in the fourth innings
- Justin Greaves: Maiden Test five-wicket haul
- All 40 wickets: Taken by pace bowlers
- Pakistan away Test losses: Eight consecutive defeats
- West Indies’ recent Test record: Second win in their last 11 Tests
What Comes Next for West Indies and Pakistan?
The second and final Test of the series will begin on August 2 at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
West Indies will enter the match with an opportunity to seal a series victory. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be desperate to end their extended overseas losing streak and level the series.
The first Test demonstrated how effective West Indies’ pace attack can be when conditions offer movement and bounce. Pakistan will need to improve their batting partnerships and find a way to withstand the new-ball pressure if they are to make a comeback.
For West Indies, the challenge will be to maintain the discipline that helped them dominate the decisive moments of this historic opening Test.
