West Indies fell predictably to Pakistan's spinners, as they collapsed for 137 in less than a session on day two of the opening Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Noman Ali (5-39) and Sajid Khan (4-65) expectedly combined for a spin-bowling clinic, as they shared nine wickets to give Pakistan a commanding grip on the match, which they now lead by 202 runs.
After bowling down the Caribbean side, Pakistan, who posted 230 in their first innings, added to the 93-run lead with intent in their second innings, led by Shan Masood's well-crafted 52.
The captain was run out in a mix-up, while Jomel Warrican dismissed Muhammad Hurraira (29) and Babar Azam (5) to leave Pakistan at 109-3 by stumps. Kamran Ghulam, on nine, and Saud Shakeel, on two, will resume on day three.
Noman Ali after his seventh five-fer in Test cricket. (Photos: PCB)
Scores: Pakistan 230 (Shakeel 84, Rizwan 71, Seales 3-27) and 109 for 3 (Masood 52, Hurraira 29, Warrican 2-17) lead West Indies 137 (Warrican 31*, Noman 5-39, Sajid 4-65) by 202 runs
West Indies had no answer to the relentless accuracy and sharp turn of Ali and Khan, who bowled all but 14 deliveries in the innings. Only a defiant 46-run last-wicket partnership between Jomel Warrican (31 not out) and Jayden Seales (22) spared them further embarrassment, as it pushed their total past 100.
They were in disarray at 68-8 before the tail-end resistance, in which Warrican and Seales provided brief fireworks, including several cleanly struck sixes. Seales was eventually deceived by a googly from Abrar Ahmed, who claimed the final wicket as Mohammad Rizwan completed the catch.
Prior to that, Khan set the tone early as he dismantled the West Indies top order with four wickets in his first three overs. He accounted for captain Kraigg Brathwaite (11), Mikyle Louis (one), Keacy Carty (zero), and Kavem Hodge (four) with consummate ease.
Jayden Seales cuts a frustrated figure as Kevin Sinclair looks on.
Ali joined the fray with a ripping delivery that clipped Justin Greaves’ off stump for four to set the stage for his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
His other scalps were Alick Athanaze (six), debutant Tevin Imlach (six), Kevin Sinclair (11), and Gudakesh Motie (19), as West Indies struggled to either defend or attack, with a few batsmen even dragging the ball onto their stumps in a desperate attempt to counter the spinners.
Earlier, the day began with West Indies taking four wickets for 13 runs that triggered a Pakistan collapse from their overnight score of 143-4. Shakeel (84) and Rizwan (71), who resumed on 56 and 51, respectively, added to their fifth-wicket stand, which eventually ended at 141 before the slide began.
Sinclair lured Shakeel into edging one to slip, and Warrican exploited the turn to dismiss Salman Agha (two) and contribute to the chaos.
Shan Masood celebrates his half-century.
A mix-up between Rizwan and Noman Ali (zero) resulted in the latter’s run-out, while Rizwan himself fell to a reverse sweep following a sharp review. Sajid Khan (18) and Khurram Shahzad (seven) added 25 late runs to take Pakistan to 230.
Warrican finished with 3-69 and Seales 3-27.