Roach stars as West Indies beat Pakistan in first Test

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 05 Jan 2023

West Indies register an epic one wicket victory in the first Test against Pakistan at Sabina Park Sunday.

Chasing 168 for victory, Kemar Roach hit the winning runs late on the fourth day as the veteran seam bowler ended undefeated on 30.

“I just stayed positive and was just trying to take on every ball as it came,” said 34-year-old Roach.

“I was just trying to pick the gaps and run hard. Just believing and backing myself.”

Jermaine Blackwood laid the foundation of the run chase after an early burst from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed four wickets in the innings.

Afridi removed Kraigg Brathwaite (2) Kieran Powell (4) and Nkrumah Bonner (5) with just 16 runs on the score board.

However, Roston Chase and Blackwood 68-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring the home side back in the game. Chase departed after scoring 22.

Later in the innings Roach and Joshua Da Silva made vital 26-run stand for the seventh wicket which brought West Indies closer to victory.

With 17 runs remaining, Roach played it smartly with Jayden Seales (2) to see the team home.

Apart from Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali claimed three wickets for the losing side.

Earlier, Seales, 19, finished with 5-55 as Pakistan lost their last five second innings wickets on Sunday for the addition of just 43 runs to their overnight total.

The visitors resumed the innings with 160 runs on the scoreboard and five wickets in hand. Faheem Ashraf was the first batsman dismissed on day four as he walked back to the pavilion after scoring 20 courtesy of Kemar Roach.

Captain Babar Azam only added a single run to his overnight score, as he was removed by Kyle Mayers. The 26-year-old scored 55.

Babar’s wicket exposed the Pakistan tail, which eventually bundled up for 203. Hasan Ali showed great resistance with the bat as he scored 28.

Teams

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Kieran Powell, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva (wicketkeeper), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Jomel Warrican.

Pakistan: Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (captain), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi.