WEST INDIES WIN CLIFFHANGER AT SABINA.

West Indies cricket team pulled off what seemed like an unlikely victory earlier today versus Pakistan in the first of two Test matches at Sabina Park. Pakistan took first strike and was bowled out for 217 with Fawad Alam top scoring with 56. Jayden Seales and Jason Holder took 3 wickets each with Kemar Roach grabbing two of his own.

Jayden Seales and Kemar Roach embrace each other after a specular performance by the pair at Sabina Park (vs Pakistan). Photo Credit: ICC- No Copyright infringement intended.

West Indies feared a little better at the crease with captain Kraigg Brathwaite scoring a well played 97 and Jason Holder 58, being bowled out for 253. This gave the West Indies a 36-run lead.

Pakistan’s second turn at the wicket did not go any better than the first, being dismissed for 203, with Babar Azam scoring 55. Trinibagonian speedster Jayden Seales took 5 for 55 and in the process broke a 71 year old record becoming the youngest West Indian bowler to claim a 5-wicket haul at age 19. The previous record was held by Alf Valentine at age 20 in 1950.

All the aforementioned greatness gave West Indies a target of 168 for victory.

With such a small target, Windies fans might have been celebrating early but boy-oh-boy, that celebration did not last long as 21-year old Shaheen Afridi ripped through the West Indies’ top order. With the score at 16, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell and Nkrumah Bonner were all back in the pavilion. At this point, West Indies needed someone to steady the inning by occupying the crease. That someone came in the form of Jermaine Blackwood (55) and Roston Chase (22) who took the score to 84 before Chase was dismissed. This triggered a mini collapse by the Men in Maroon, losing Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood and Jason Holder in the space of 10 overs, to be reduced to 114 for 7.

West Indies at this critical point in the game needed another batsman to stay at the crease and build an innings. This time around, it came in the person of veteran Kemar Roach ( 30*) who saw the Windies to victory and an unassailable lead in the 2 match series.

Jayden Seales for his match winning figures of 8 for 125, was awarded the Man of The Match honours.