Player of the Match
Player of the Match

A cracking start to the Test leg of the tour after a damp T20I series. There is one more game to go before Pakistan head home, with West Indies now opening their account in the WTC 2 cycle. We can now recover from our nerves, and think about what is to come. Join us for the second Test at the same venue four days later. Until then, it is a goodbye and goodnight from Binoy, Chandan, Sreshth and me, Himanshu!

Sampath pings to let us know that this is the third time a team has won by a one-wicket margin in the last 84 Tests. Only 12 such instances occurred in the first 2346 Tests

Fawad Tariq: "Who says test cricket isn't entertaining." --- Damn those who did!

Brad: "All 22 players should hold their heads up high" --- You've summed it up perfectly.

The winning captain Brathwaite: "Remarkable Test. We never lost hope. It was truly amazing. I thought Pakistan bowled really well. It is about patience - who has more patience will come out on top. It will be a different pitch [for the second Test]. The bowlers did a fantastic job. They were a little tired at times too. We have been working hard as a batting group. Blackwood has been hungry for runs, especially at his home ground [here]. It was a good cricket pitch, and had something for the pacers and value for runs."

Seales is the Player of the Match for his eight wickets: "Words can't describe how I feel after those five wickets. Thanks to the Almighty. Roach and I talked about being positive, and eventually we got there. Test cricket has been a dream come true for me. [He is lost for words in between] All bowlers in the team bring the positive energy. [Plan while batting today?] For me, it was about giving the strike to Roach."

Time for Babar Azam to speak: "This is the beauty of Test cricket. We put in a good effort with the bat. The bowlers then restricted them before our bowlers took the wickets. Again, in the second innings, we fought with the bat and the bowlers hit back. It was swinging and seaming throughout in the second innings. But we were patient, and our attempt to stitch together partnerships. Our bowlers were really good, especially Abbas and Shaheen. Had we taken those dropped catches, the result could have been different."

Time for the presentations.

Jake: "With wickets and matchwinning runs, Kemar Roach deserves Player of the Match!"

A see-sawing game finally goes the West Indies' way. So many outstanding performances throughout the game: Fawad's 56, and three wickets each for Holder and Seales; Brathwaite's 97, Holder's 58, and seven wickets between Afridi and Abbas; Babar's fifty and Seales' five-for; and finally, runs from Blackwood and Roach, and wickets from Afridi and Hasan.

Here's the legend of Roach: "Just stay positive - that's me! I was just trying to take on every ball as it came. By far [the most important innings so far]. I was just trying to pick the gaps and run hard. Just believing and backing myself. [Advice to Seales?] Just protect the stumps. The biggest threat is the straight ball. He did it very well. He is a star for the future. [His five wickets today] speaks wonders about our cricket. All the best to him, and I wish him a great career!"

Allen: "Dare I say, this test was more exhilarating than the hundred! " --- Ah, any doubts?

Moiz: "Rizwan becomes heo to zero. Ordinary fielding and batting has cost Pakistan this game. Bowlers bowl their heart out."

4.34pm We need some time to breathe here. Ah, that was some game! Roach and Seales add the required 17 for the last wicket, and seal the match. One of those legendary Tests which are won by one wicket - Headingley 2019, et al - and credit to both sides for this exceptional match.

56.5
2
Hasan Ali to Roach, 2 runs, pushes this between point and cover, and West Indies win! Remarkable! What a Test! West Indies take it with just one wicket to spare. Hasan Ali is down on his haunches. A match for the ages; a game of a lifetime. Test cricket is still alive. Anyway, not that it matters a lot, but Roach went driving at this fullish ball outside off, and it was more of a push than a drive. Roach knew it straightaway that he had won it for his side the moment he played at that
56.4
0
Hasan Ali to Roach, no run, on a good length outside off, and he opens the bat face to tap that to point with a loud call of "no"

Salman: "Those haunting drop catches :/ "

56.3
0
Hasan Ali to Roach, no run, full and just outside off. Defended off the front foot with the full face of the bat

All men in except fine leg. Nerves...

56.2
4
Hasan Ali to Roach, FOUR, outside edge, and between the keeper and the slip! That is four down to third man, and West Indies just need two more. The ball seemed to have dropped just short of Rizwan diving to his right, and then went beneath his outstretched glove as Roach gets an edge to his drive on the full length while playing away from his body
56.1
0
Hasan Ali to Roach, no run, on a good length on off, and dabbed toward midwicket. Hasan gives the chase, and Roach doesn't run

GPN: "Roach is not helping here. Why take a run first ball of the over. Did it in 2 of 3 overs now"

END OF OVER:
56 | 3 Runs | WI: 162/9

  • Jayden Seales2 (13b)
  • Kemar Roach24 (47b)
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi17-4-50-4
  • Hasan Ali16-5-31-3
55.6
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Seales, no run, excellent grab by Rizwan by leaping! Prevents four byes after Seales plays within the line of the stumps to this short ball on off
55.5
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Seales, no run, full and wide of off. Seales shoulders arms, with the ball angling in a touch after leaving him
55.4
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Roach, 1 run, good dive by slip to his right, but can't prevent a single. Roach got an outside edge to this dab to the full ball outside off, but still manages a run after the ball rolls away

Calls of "patience, patience" from the Pakistan players on the field

Wasim: "I have finished all my nails by now... Hell of a test match... "

55.3
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Seales, 1 run, pretty full on middle and off, and turned away to fine leg for a single. Roach back on strike
55.2
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Seales, no run, on a good length on off, and Afridi appeals for leg before. There was a bottom edge anyway to that defence, as the ball angled in. Remember, Pakistan don't have reviews left too

Over the wicket to Seales

55.1
1lb
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Roach, 1 leg bye, full delivery on middle, and angling in. He goes for the flick, but his pad and trickles to the on side. They take the leg-bye, as Afridi gives the chase

Afridi continues from around the wicket

END OF OVER:
55 | 5 Runs | WI: 159/9

  • Jayden Seales1 (9b)
  • Kemar Roach23 (45b)
  • Hasan Ali16-5-31-3
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi16-4-48-4
54.6
0
Hasan Ali to Seales, no run, full and wide of off. Easily left by Seales
54.5
1
Hasan Ali to Roach, 1 run, just short of the man at gully! Just nine to get now. Roach goes for the pull after taking his eyes off to this short ball on off. Comes off his shoulder and allows a run
54.4
1
Hasan Ali to Seales, 1 run, flicks this full ball just outside off across the line to deep midwicket

Around the wicket to Seales

54.3
1
Hasan Ali to Roach, 1 run, slower delivery on off, and Roach drives on the up to long-off, who is on the fence
54.2
0
Hasan Ali to Roach, no run, pushes at this fullish ball on off toward cover, and doesn't take the single with the man at cover being a bit deep
54.1
2
Hasan Ali to Roach, 2 runs, pretty full on off, and clipped in front of deep square, who runs to his left to throw back at the bowler's end as the batters rush for two. Good running under pressure

Hasan over the wicket, with a slip

Right then. Roach on strike with West Indies needing 14 more, and Pakistan just one wicket away.

Andy: "It's so tense! And I'm a neutral...I don't even know who I want to win. Stay strong Pakistan and Windies fans - this is a thriller."

West Indies 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4KOA PowellKC Brathwaite
2nd11NE BonnerKC Brathwaite
3rd1NE BonnerRL Chase
4th68RL ChaseJ Blackwood
5th8KR MayersJ Blackwood
6th19JO HolderJ Blackwood
7th3JO HolderJ Da Silva
8th28KAJ RoachJ Da Silva
9th9KAJ RoachJA Warrican
10th17KAJ RoachJNT Seales