Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan struck unbroken half-centuries to steer Pakistan past Jayden Seales’ three-wicket spell, reaching 143-4 on the opening day of the first Test in Multan on Friday.
New Delhi: Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan struck unbroken half-centuries to steer Pakistan past Jayden Seales’ three-wicket spell, reaching 143-4 on the opening day of the first Test in Multan on Friday. After fog disrupted the morning session, Pakistan’s decision to bat under captain Shan Masood seemed to backfire, with the team struggling at 46-4 following Seales’ dismissal of Babar Azam, caught behind.
Shakeel (56) and Rizwan (51) steadied Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten 97-run partnership for the fifth wicket before bad light halted play. West Indies started with Gudakesh Motie’s left-arm spin, which found considerable turn on the opening-day pitch, but it was Seales who made an early impact on Pakistan’s top order. Opener Muhammad Hurraira scored just six before being caught by West Indies wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, who was also making his Test debut in the match.
Kamran Ghulam (5) was dismissed lbw after failing to play a shot to an incoming delivery from Seales, who later claimed the wicket of Babar, caught behind. Following an extended discussion with Saud, Babar, who had scored eight, chose to review the decision. However, replays showed he had edged the ball, leading to Pakistan losing their review.
“We need to continue bowling the good balls,” Seales told broadcasters after the day’s play.
“As spinners or as fast bowlers, there’s always something in the pitch for us. It’s a matter of just bowling our good balls for as long as possible.
“I think 250-odd is probably a good score on this pitch.”
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