Pakistan achieved a historic milestone by defeating the West Indies by 127 runs in the first Test in Multan, becoming the first team in cricket history to claim all 20 wickets with spin bowlers in three consecutive home matches. This world record, confirmed by Wisden, underscores Pakistan’s dominance on spin-friendly pitches.
The match concluded on the third day, with Pakistan setting a target of 251 runs for the visitors. Their spinners, led by Sajid Khan, delivered an extraordinary performance, dismantling the West Indies’ batting lineup. Sajid was the standout bowler, taking five wickets in the second innings, including the top five batters. This added to his impressive four-wicket haul in the first innings, earning him a total of nine wickets in the match.
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Noman Ali, who had also claimed five wickets in the first innings, continued his fine form by trapping Justin Greaves lbw in the second innings. Abrar Ahmed then wrapped up the game by taking four quick wickets, finishing with five dismissals in the match.
This victory marks the third consecutive home Test where Pakistan’s spinners have taken all 20 wickets—a feat unmatched in cricket history. Previously, Pakistan’s spinners achieved this in two matches during a home series against England. After suffering a heavy defeat in the series opener, dominated by a triple century from Harry Brook on a flat pitch, Pakistan adapted their strategy, employing spin-friendly conditions. Their spinners took all 40 wickets in the last two Tests, helping Pakistan secure a 2-1 series victory.
Globally, this achievement has occurred five times, with Pakistan now holding three of those instances. The other two instances occurred in the 20th century, both involving Pakistan. In 1980, Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Nazir, and Abdul Qadir took all 20 wickets against the West Indies in Faisalabad. In 1987, against England, Abdul Qadir’s 13-wicket haul was complemented by contributions from Tauseef Ahmed and Iqbal Qasim.
Globally, similar feats have been achieved by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka three times each, and by England once. India remains the only team to have accomplished this feat in an away Test, doing so against New Zealand in Auckland in 1976.
Pakistan’s current spin arsenal has been led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who have taken 26 and 28 wickets, respectively, across the last three home Tests. Abrar Ahmed has also been instrumental, claiming five wickets in this match, while Zahid Mehmood has made occasional contributions.
Pakistan Captain Shan Masood Praises Spinners After Victory Over West Indies
Pakistan captain Shan Masood has credited his team’s spinners for their pivotal role in securing a 127-run victory against the West Indies in the first Test in Multan. The win, which gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, was marked by a record-breaking performance from the spin trio of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed, who claimed all 20 wickets.
Reflecting on the match, Masood highlighted the importance of the spin-friendly pitch and the clinical execution by his bowlers. “As long as we get 20 wickets and are able to put in a good performance, we will be happy. The spinners were clinical, and Abrar, along with Noman and Sajid, was great,” Masood said.
Masood also emphasized the significance of the 141-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, which rescued Pakistan’s first innings after an early collapse. “We lost four wickets to some quality seam bowling. That partnership was crucial. Before the Test, we discussed that set batters should stay longer, and that’s exactly what Saud and Rizwan did,” he explained.
Shakeel’s 84 and Rizwan’s 71 played a vital role in lifting Pakistan from 46/4 to a competitive total of 230 in their first innings.
Despite the win, Masood pointed out areas where the team needs to improve, particularly in batting. He acknowledged that Pakistan folded cheaply in their second innings, managing just 157 runs. “Batting was hard. We need to add more runs with the last few wickets. There are improvements to be made. When you win, you can’t just go on a happy ride and be content. We have to keep working,” Masood added.
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