Pakistan vs West Indies 1st Test Full Commentary
Result · Jul 25 2026, Sat - 07:30 PM (IST)
1st Test, - Brian Lara Cricket Academy
PAK 282/10, 120/10 (40.2)
WI 311/10, 181/10 (54.5)
Day 4: West Indies beat Pakistan by 90 runs
CRR:2.98
Player Of The Match
Welcome back for Pakistan's reply. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais open up for Pakistan. They will try to build a gritty stand. Kemar Roach has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Four slips in place. Let's play...
... SECOND INNINGS ...
Hot and cold bowling - Pakistan's bowling had its highs and lows. There was enough assistance on offer, but the lack of an express pace option hurt them at times. Their quicks relied heavily on disciplined line and length, and once the ball lost its shine, wickets became much harder to come by. The West Indian batters made them work for every breakthrough. That said, Pakistan were far more impressive this morning. Barring the brief Shamar Joseph blitz, they stayed in control and wrapped things up efficiently. Abbas claimed three wickets, Mohammad Ali finished with four, while Shahzad chipped in with two. A satisfying effort with the ball for the tourists in the end. Now, it is up to the batters to make it count.
Summing up the West Indian innings - It was a bit of a topsy-turvy one. Almost every batter got a start, but it was Kavem Hodge and Shai Hope who truly stitched the innings together. Their composed knocks steadied the ship, kept Pakistan at bay, and their crucial partnership took the sting out of the visitors' attack on a truncated Day 1.
Formidable total - A total of 311 still looks like a formidable one on this surface. There has been enough lateral movement on offer, and with a quality West Indies pace attack ready to pounce, Pakistan know they have a stern examination ahead. The new ball will be the biggest challenge, with the Caribbean quicks expected to crank up the pace and make full use of the movement and bounce on offer. The visitors will need to be at their watchful best.
Superlative comeback! Just 8 runs and 3 wickets in 2.5 overs after Lunch, and Pakistan have stormed right back into the contest. There was the looming threat of Shamar Joseph when the teams broke for Lunch, but Pakistan could not have scripted a better response. Mohammad Ali came out breathing fire, wrapped up the tail in no time, and completed the job for his side. Pakistan head back to the pavilion with smiles all around.
OUT! BOWLED! Mohammad Ali wraps up the innings in style and completes a superb four-wicket haul. He pitches it up on off with a hint of shape back in. Seales looks to defend but leaves a sizeable gap between bat and pad. That's all the invitation the ball needs as it sneaks through and sends the off stump cartwheeling. West Indies are bowled out for 311, and Pakistan finish the innings on a high.
Fuller and around leg, Seales tries to flick but misses.
Jayden Seales is the number 11 batter.
OUT! LBW! Mohammad Ali produces a beauty and Pakistan have a massive breakthrough. He lands it on a good length around off and gets it to jag back sharply. Shai Hope plants his front foot without getting fully forward, looks to defend, but is beaten on the inside edge and struck flush on the front pad. Pakistan appeal confidently and the finger goes up. Hope reviews immediately. UltraEdge shows nothing. Ball Tracking has it crashing into the stumps. Heartbreak for Hope, who falls just eight runs short of a well-deserved century.
Ali targets the off stump with a length ball, Shai covers the line and defends it watchfully. Remains on 92.
Back of a length, around off and staying low, Hope does well to crouch a bit as he blocks it to the off side.
Full and floated, on off, Jomel draws forward and defends it safely.
FOUR BYES! A bonus for West Indies. Fired in flatter on middle, the ball skids down the leg side. Jomel has a swipe at the flick but fails to make contact. It beats his pads, evades the keeper as well, and races away to the fine leg fence for four byes.
Nice loop on this one, full and drifting around off, Jomel Warrican strides forward and blocks.
Ali pulls his length back a bit, around off, Hope goes on the back foot and punches it to long on for a run.
Loopy and full, landing on middle, Shai is on the front foot in defense.
Flighted and on middle, Hope works it off his pads to short leg.
First sign of spin on Day 2. It's Ali Usman. 12-0-34-0.
Angles in a length ball on middle, Jomel tickles it off his pads but finds square leg.
Sharp bouncer around off at 133 clicks, Jomel Warrican immediately ducks.
Shortish and on off, Hope steers it through covers for a run. Moves to 91.
Full and sliding down the leg side, it's nudged down to fine leg for one.
Jomel Warrican joins his skipper in the middle.
OUT! CAUGHT! Pakistan have the perfect start after Lunch, and it's the end of an entertaining cameo from Shamar Joseph. Mohammad Ali bangs it in short on the leg-stump line, cramping the batter for room. Joseph goes for the pull but only manages a glove through to the slip cordon. The ball lobs gently to Salman Agha at first slip, who completes a straightforward catch. A huge relief for Pakistan as Joseph departs immediately after the break, with West Indies now 304/8.
Shortish and around middle and leg, Hope works it through square leg and begins this session with a run.
We're back for the afternoon session! The morning ended on an electrifying note, courtesy of Shamar Joseph's fearless counterattack. Pakistan will know they need his wicket quickly because another half an hour of this carnage, and West Indies could race to 350 or even 375 before you know it. The weather has behaved so far, the sun continues to shine, and there is no immediate threat of rain, at least for now. Mohammad Ali, who bowled a marathon spell in the first session, returns to bowl after the break. 1/47 from his 20 overs.
... DAY 2, SESSION 2 ...
Water on the efforts? One bad moment does not make the whole session poor for Pakistan. Make no mistake, they were superb this morning, with the exception of Aamer Jamal who just could not bowl two balls in the same area. But picking up 4 wickets for 109 runs in 29 overs is definitely a session to be proud of. Just that they were hit by a tsunami called Shamar Joseph and in a sense, it is good for them that the break came now. They get some time to reflect on the good work done for over 2 hours in the extended session and come back out firing post Lunch and wrap this up. West Indies, on the other hand, might already believe that they have got enough runs on this deck. Their own fast bowlers would be eager to go on this pitch with so much lateral movement available. Add to it, another 50-odd runs would be a bonus. What is not desirable by anyone would be - the initial forecast - which suggests for thunderstorms later this afternoon. Let's hope that play resumes on time at 4.40 pm GMT and the conditions stay the same till the end of the day.
The warrior - This morning, before play, Floyd Reifer, West Indies' batting coach, informed us that Shai Hope is battling a shoulder injury but also predicted that if he manages to play out the opening hour, he will get a century. Hope nearly failed that prediction as he nicked one off Ali after getting to 50 but luck seems to be on his side. He has batted the whole of the morning session, reaching 89 and on the cusp of back-to-back centuries in Test cricket. He absorbed the pressure and has shown excellent fortitude. Even now, he has shown great trust in his batting partners, not ready to go all out yet. The longer he stays, not only will the hosts improve their chances of reaching 350, but the bowlers of Pakistan will start tiring out as well.
We are back for the West Indies' second batting innings! Brandon King and Tagenarine Chanderpaul will open the innings for the Windies. Mohammad Abbas will start with the proceedings, with two slips and a gully in place. Away we go...
... THIRD INNINGS ...
Windies gaining back their control - Masood has carried his good form into Day 3, closing in on a well-deserved century as Pakistan push to overhaul the deficit, with Salman Ali Agha giving him steady support at the other end. The first hour of the morning session on Day 3 was clearly going in favour of the visitors, but things switched very quickly after Shamar Joseph found the breakthrough by eliminating Agha. That incident really shook Pakistan, as wickets were falling one after the other like dominoes. Just before the lunch break, West Indies managed to pick up eight wickets. It took around 50 minutes for the bowlers to find the last two wickets, but they were able to pull it off before it got too late. Pakistan trail by 29 runs, and the West Indies have a good advantage to capitalize on it.
The sturdy top order - Pakistan have batted with real authority, anchored by a superb innings from Shan Masood. After a shaky start that saw them lose their first wicket for just 1 run, openers Imam-ul-Haq and Masood rebuilt the innings with a commanding 155-run second-wicket stand. Imam contributed a fluent 63 off 102 balls before falling to Shamar Joseph late on Day 2, while Masood rode his luck, surviving a dropped chance and a tight lbw shout, to bat through with real composure. Babar Azam fell soon after for 23, leaving Pakistan 199 for 3 at the close of Day 2, still 112 runs adrift.
The stadium is up on their feet - The round of applause for Justin Greaves, not only for picking the FIVE-FER, but also for his best bowling figures in Test cricket. Certainly a day to remember for the 32-year-old. He takes his hat and glasses off and raises the ball while walking to his pavilion.
OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! The second new ball does the trick right away. Kemar Roach scoots from over the wicket and bowls just behind the back of the good length, angling in, but nipping it away late from the batter. Khurram Shahzad makes room and looks to heave it across the line, but gets nicked on the outside edge. Shai Hope shuffles to his left following the angle of the ball, but adjusts really well to leap to his right and pouches the catch into his gloves. Pakistan ended up putting 282 runs on the board, trailing by 29 runs.
West Indies can opt for the second new ball, and they are taking it straight away.
Full, on off, defended by Ali.
Much fuller, swinging in, Mohammad Ali gets beaten on the inside edge while performing the defense and gets pinged on the pad.
Much fuller, on off, Mohammad Ali defends it to the off side.
A tad fuller, on off, Khurram Shahzad goes for a wild swing and connects the inner part of his bat to deep square leg for one.
Beaten! Good-length delivery, outside off, Khurram Shahzad looks to defend it away from his body and misses the outside edge.
Back of a length, just outside off, Khurram Shahzad misses on his poke.
Floated and fuller, on off, Mohammad Ali blocks it down.
A touch shorter, outside off, Mohammad Ali fends it out.
Short, angling down the leg side, Ali misses his clip.
Fullish, around middle, Khurram Shahzad knocks it to long on and gets a single. Pakistan trail by 30 runs!
Flighted and fuller, on off, Khurram Shahzad pushes it back to the bowler.
A touch fuller, just outside off, Khurram Shahzad defends it to cover.
A touch fuller, outside off, Mohammad Ali keeps it out.
Bends his back and bashes onto the length, does Seales, on a good length. Mohammad Ali leaps and bunts it down the track.
A touch fuller, around off, but the ball stays low yet again. Mohammad Ali defends it from the toe end of the bat.
Back of a length, outside off, Mohammad Ali dabs it to cover.
On the fuller side, on off, Mohammad Ali pushes it to cover, wanting a single, but Khurram Shahzad yet again rejects the call. Ali is getting a bit annoyed now.
Pitching it slightly behind the good length, angling in, around leg. Mohammad Ali hops to tuck it but the ball stays low after pitching and hits the pad.
Full, on off, Shahzad rests it down.
Flighted and fuller, on off, Khurram Shahzad drives it gently to cover.
Full-length delivery, just outside off, Khurram Shahzad defends it down.
Tossed up, fuller, on off, Khurram Shahzad eases it to the left of the bowler.
Short, outside off, Khurram Shahzad slaps it to cover.
We are back for the final innings of this test match. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Azan Awais and Imam-ul-Haq open up for Pakistan. Kemar Roach has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
... FOURTH INNINGS ...
The late counter-attack - Lower-order batter Shamar Joseph provided a thrilling spark, taking a liking to Jamal and launching sixes to push the West Indies to 126/7 by the end of the day. Resuming on Day 4, Joseph’s entertaining 38-run cameo came to an end, and Kemar Roach quickly followed as the hosts were finally bundled out for 181, setting Pakistan a target of 211 to chase. Mohammad Abbas finished as the pick of the bowlers with an impressive five-wicket haul, while Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali chipped in with two wickets each to put Pakistan firmly in the driver's seat.
The middle-order collapse - The post-Tea session of Day 3 brought more chaos as Shai Hope attempted an ambitious slog, only to be castled by Khurram Shahzad. Chanderpaul continued to fight with immense discipline alongside Justin Greaves, but just as the stand began to bloom, Chanderpaul fell to Aamir Jamal. Abbas then returned to dismiss Greaves, courtesy of a spectacular diving catch by skipper Babar Azam, before Shahzad got Roston Chase caught behind to leave the hosts in dire straits at 93/7.
West Indies lead by 210 runs - West Indies needed a strong start to capitalize on their slender lead, but Mohammad Abbas struck early blows that blew the innings wide open. Abbas removed Brandon King for another low score and followed up three balls later by removing Kavem Hodge for a duck. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Amir Jangoo momentarily steadied the ship with a patient mini-partnership, but right on the stroke of Tea on Day 3, Mohammad Ali plucked a stunning catch to dismiss Jangoo and leave the Windies reeling at 28/3.
OUT! TIMBER! That's a ripper from Mohammad Abbas. He completes his five-wicket haul as well. Hard length, on off, shaping in. Jomel Warrican stays back and looks to block it, but the ball goes through his bat and his pad and hits the top of middle. West Indies have been bowled out for 181 runs. They have a lead of 210 runs.
FOUR! Streaky from Jomel Warrican! Full and outside off, Jomel Warrican stays back and looks to block it. Gets a thick outside edge as the ball races through backward point for a boundary.
Mohammad Rizwan comes up to the stumps now to keep Jomel Warrican inside the crease.
Nice and full, on middle, Jomel Warrican digs it back to the bowler.
Shaping away, on off, Jomel Warrican punches it to cover.
Angling in, on off, Jomel Warrican blocks it to mid off.
Short and wide, Jayden Seales shoulders arms at it.
Back of a length, on middle and leg. Jayden Seales walks down the track and looks to pull it away, but misses the connection and hits the left left bicep.
Full, on middle and leg, Jomel Warrican flicks it to backward square leg and gets a single.
Back of a length, outside off, Jomel Warrican makes a leave.
NO BALL! Ali oversteps, and with that bonus run, it will make four in total. Fullish, outside off, Jayden Seales drives it from the outer half of his bat. The ball beats the backward point fielder to his right, but Sajid Khan backtracks, runs all the way and dives to flick it, just before it touches the boundary ropes. The batter runs three.
Back of a length, on middle, Jayden Seales dabs it to mid-wicket.
Full, on off, Seales blocks it out.
With those three runs, the lead is now 201! Pitches it up, does Abbas, shaping in, on off and middle, Jayden Seales nudges it toward the vacant square leg region. Sajid Khan charges from the deep and has a shy at the bowler's end, but the backup is way far from the wickets. The batter gets another run and gets three in total.
A touch fuller, on off, Jayden Seales knocks it to mid off.
Fuller, on off, Jayden Seales defends it down.
On a length, outside off, Jayden Seales offers a straight bat but it zips past the outside edge.
Much fuller, on middle, Jayden Seales digs it out.
Jayden Seales is the last man batter.
OUT! CAUGHT! Mohammad Abbas gets his fourth wicket and he sends off Kemar Roach with a daring pace bowler's stare. A touch fuller in length, outside off, a bit slower as well. Kemar Roach gets on his front foot and tries to drive it, but mistimes it and chips it to Babar Azam in the cover region, who makes no mistake in scooping that dolly. Pakistan are one wicket away to get onto bat.
Full, on off, defended by Jomel Warrican.
Back of a length, well outside off, Jomel Warrican is happy to let it pass through.
SIX! Some lucky runs for Jomel Warrican. Short of a length, outside off. Jomel Warrican gets on his toes and looks to pull it across the line, but catches the top edge. The ball skies up high and flies over the deep fine leg region for half a dozen.
Full, on off, Jomel Warrican defends it solidly to cover.
Hard length, down the leg side, Jomel Warrican fails to connect his flick.
Dropping down the curtains - Right then, that is it from this Test match. Pakistan lost their eighth consecutive test match. West Indies lead the series, and they will be looking forward to get the glory by winning the second as well. The next encounter between these two giants will be on 2nd of August, Sunday. The first ball will be bowled at 2 pm GMT, but as always, you can join us early for the buildup. Till then, it's a goodbye from the commentary box. Cheers!
The victorious captain of West Indies - Roston Chase says that this is a great feeling and that their team played really well. He reckons that the efforts from their bowlers were excellent and they showed patience. He mentions that he loves how the team is working and everyone contributes in their own ways. He ends by saying that it also feels good to get an extra day's rest.
The skipper of Pakistan - Babar Azam starts off by saying that they played really well in the last couple of days, but they needed some better batting from his unit. About the surface, Babar says that it was good to bat on. The new ball was moving very well, but as it got older, it became easier to build a partnership. On Shan Masood's finger injury, Babar lamented that losing him was unfortunate for the team and acknowledged that they certainly missed his presence on the field. He then explained that regardless of such setbacks, surviving the early overs against the new ball and building partnerships can put a team in a strong position, though he admitted they failed to execute that strategy. Looking ahead to turning things around in the next Test match, he stated that the team will gather to analyze their mistakes and pinpoint where things went wrong.
Player of the Match - Justin Greaves is the Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul in the second innings and a couple of wickets in the fourth innings. He says that he always gives his best for the team and he is happy to be on the winning side. He reckons that their plan was to bowl with discipline and says that targeting the stumps worked well for them. He ends by saying that they will try to carry on with the same momentum in their next game as well.
Time for the presentaton ceremony...
The lone wolf for the visitors - Despite losing six wickets, the only hope that Pakistan still had is Babar Azam. He watched the wickets fall from one end and but still didn't lose any confidence on his strokes. After the fall of the sixth wicket, Shan Masood couldn't much helped with his fractured finger. Mohammad Ali and Shahzad stepped in and out with just 71 runs on the board. However, Abbas played some handy shots as well to trigger the scoreline, but the difference between them and the Windies was 90 runs. Jayden Seales was pick of the bowlers in the fourth inning, picking up five wickets and dismantling the opposition.
The top order struggles for Pakistan - What was expected to be a measured fourth-innings chase turned into an outright nightmare for Pakistan as the West Indies pacers unleashed absolute carnage. Kemar Roach struck early to dismiss Imam-ul-Haq, before Jayden Seales trapped both Azan Awais and Salman Ali Agha to leave the visitors trembling at 25/3. After Lunch, Justin Greaves joined the demolition derby, cleaning up Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal in quick succession, before Roach returned to dismiss Ali Usman as Pakistan reeled at a dismal 53/6.
The tailenders counter-attack - Carrying momentum into their second turn at bat, West Indies immediately ran into a Mohammad Abbas storm as the veteran pacer tore through the top order with a lethal 5 for 22, leaving the hosts gasping at 93/7. Just when Pakistan smelled a total blowout, the Windies tail refused to wave the white flag. Kemar Roach and a fearless Shamar Joseph launched a roaring 61-run stand, with Joseph smashing four huge sixes in a quickfire 38. Their lower-order fightback dragged West Indies to 181, setting Pakistan a daunting target of 211 runs on a tricky, wearing pitch.
Masood’s masterclass - Pakistan’s reply started on a shaky note as Kemar Roach removed Azan Awais for a duck, but Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq completely flipped the script with a magnificent 155-run stand. Masood played a masterpiece of an innings, storming to a sensational 109, while Imam anchored with a smooth 63 to put Pakistan in total control at 199 for 3 by Day 2's close. However, Day 3 brought a nightmare collapse sparked by Justin Greaves, who produced a mind-boggling spell of 5 for 27. Pakistan lost their last six wickets for just 38 runs to fold for 282, handing West Indies a surprising 29-run lead.
West Indies dig deep - The Test kicked off under gloomy Tarouba skies with Pakistan’s relentless pacers making the new ball talk, but West Indies showed tremendous grit to post a competitive 311. Brandon King fell early, yet Kavem Hodge and Shai Hope, scoring 84 and 92, respectively, to lead a gutsy recovery, constructing crucial partnerships to steady the ship. Pakistan’s seam trio hunted in a pack, with Mohammad Ali snagging four wickets and Mohammad Abbas breaking through at key moments. Even when rain and bad light repeatedly halted play, the hosts refused to surrender, with Shamar Joseph's late fireworks pushing the total past 300 to set a solid foundation.
Seales, you beauty - Jayden Seales walks off with the ball in hand for his FIVE-FER and this is his fourth one in Test cricket. Everyone in the stadium are up on their feet to applaud this masterpiece. West Indies won the first Test match by 90 runs and have the lead in this two-match series. Kudos to Babar Azam, who stayed unbeaten to give Pakistan the only glimpse of hope to chase the remaining target, but the middle order needed to do better to support their skipper.
OUT! LBW! A five-wicket haul for Jayden Seales. Hard length, angling in, on middle and leg. Mohammad Abbas is squared up as he looks to block it. Misses it completely as the ball hits his pads. A loud appeal and the finger goes up. Mohammad Abbas refers straightaway. Nothing on Ultra Edge, and Ball Tracking shows that it was clipping the leg pole. We have to go with the umpire's call. West Indies beat Pakistan by 90 runs and take a 1-0 lead in this two-match series.
Back of a length, on off, Mohammad Abbas punches it to backward point.
Jayden Seales to share the attack.
FOUR! Finishes the over with a boundary! Tossed up, on off, Babar Azam moves forward and chips it over mid on for a boundary.
A bit quicker, outside off, Babar Azam cuts it to point.
Tossed up, on off, Mohammad Abbas drags it through square leg for a single.
Fullish, on the stumps, Mohammad Abbas blocks it to short cover.
Tossed up, on off, Babar Azam moves forward and digs it to mid off for a single.
Oh, an appeal straightaway! Flatter, on leg, Babar Azam looks to block it but wears it on his pads. A loud appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Jomel Warrican has a chat with Roston Chase and they send it upstairs to have a check. Ball Tracking shows that the ball was missing the leg pole. The onfield decision stands NOT OUT. Babar Azam survives.
Welcome back for the final session of Day 4. Pakistan continues to fight as Babar Azam and Mohammad Abbas resume their innings. They need 97 more runs to win this game. West Indies will continue their hunt for the final wicket. Jomel Warrican will start with the ball. Let's go...
... DAY 4, SESSION 3 ...
One wicket or 97 runs? As the players head in for Tea, the drama in Tarouba is off the charts. West Indies are hovering just one single wicket away from a thrilling Test victory, while Pakistan still require 97 runs with their final pair fighting at the crease. Can Babar Azam pull off a miraculous comeback with Abbas, or will the Windies finally seal the deal? Stay tuned for a blockbuster final session!
Abbas joins the defiance - Enter Mohammad Abbas at number 11, who decided he wasn't going down quietly. Abbas played a few cracking, fearless shots to score a handy 22, offering priceless support to his skipper. With a quick finish in sight, the umpires extended the session before Tea, but West Indies failed to deliver the knockout punch as the last-wicket pair stubbornly held their ground.
The middle-order mayhem - The post-lunch session started with absolute mayhem as Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach ripped through Pakistan’s middle order, leaving them stranded at 53/6. Even a brave effort from Shan Masood, who walked out with a fractured finger, couldn't stop the slide as Pakistan tumbled to 71/9. Yet through all the chaos, captain Babar Azam stood firm, displaying pure class to notch up a gritty half-century with unshakeable confidence.
Pitches it up, does Seales, on off and middle. Babar Azam drives it to the left of the mid of fielder. There's a bit of misfield, and the batter gets a single. That will be Tea on Day 4!
On a nagging length, on middle, Babar Azam tucks it to mid-wicket.
Fullish, around off, Babar Azam drives it to mid off.
Full, outside off, Babar Azam shoulder arms at it.
Much fuller, on middle, shaping in. Mohammad Abbas flicks it to the right of the square leg fielder. He dives but doesn't give the full commitment. Jomel Warrican runs to his left from deep backward square leg. Babar Azam takes the single and denies the double. Jayden Seales doesn't like the commitment from the square leg fielder.