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Spinners Nauman Ali (match figures 6-81), Sajjad Khan (9-115) and Abrar Ahmed (5-33) helped Pakistan beat West Indies by 127 runs inside three days to go 1-0 up in the two-test series.

As impressive as the spinners were, as they have been since England visited last year, credit must go to Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammed Rizwan (71), who combined to put on 141 for the fifth wicket.

The pair wouldn’t have known it at the time, but initially, it appeared Shaan Masood’s Pakistan were giving the tourists a way back into the contest. They had been 187-5 and then slipped to 230 all out.

In the end, they need not have worried, despite Jomel Warrican’s brilliant 7-32. The left-arm was able to get some real value out of the pitch, troubling Rizwan on a few occasions.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis opened the batting for The Calypso boys. Like Pakistan in the first innings, their top order was all back in the pavilion with very few runs on the board.

From the West Indies’ perspective, it didn’t get much better for them; they would crumble to 137 all out. Pakistan’s trio of spinners Ahmed (1-6), Ali (5-39) and Khan (4-65) did the damage.

In the context of the game, Pakistan had a massive 93-run lead. This might have helped youngster and debutant Mohammed Hurraira make a big score in the second innings and stake his claim as a regular starter due to regular opener Saim Ayub being injured.

The 22-year-old Hurraira fell for 29, and at the end of the innings, he would be the second top scorer for Pakistan. Captain Shaan Masood’s 52 would be the top score for the home side.

Despite that, the 2009 T20 World Champions mustered only 157. Kamran Ghulam scored 27, and Salman Ali Agha scored 14. Brathwaite’s West Indies needed 250 to win the first test.

Just like the first innings, the West Indies were five down with just 54 on the board. From their perspective, at least, there was some fight shown through Alick Athanaze, who scored only 50 for the Windies in both innings.

Athanaze quickly became the one-man resistant as the other batters got out around him.

West Indies was complete as they lost three wickets without scoring. The tourists were all out for 123, which means they lost by 127 runs.

Kraigg Brathwaite’s side will have a chance to avenge this defeat on 25th January in Sultan.

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