Multan: According to Wisden, Pakistan achieved a stunning 127-run win over West Indies in the first Test in Multan, setting a world record for taking all 20 wickets with spin bowlers. On the third day, Pakistan set a target of 251 runs, including The visitors relied heavily on their spin attack to demolish the team. Off-spinner Sajid Khan played a key role in the second innings by taking five wickets, which included the top five batsmen. This made him the best performer with his four wickets in the first innings.
Noman Ali contributed by dismissing Justin Greaves LBW after his impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings. After this, Abrar Ahmed destroyed the West Indies lower order and took four consecutive wickets to ensure Pakistan's victory. Ahmed ended the match with five wickets.
This remarkable performance continues Pakistan's recent success on spin-friendly pitches at home. In their previous home series against England, Pakistan bounced back from a heavy defeat in the first Test – winning thanks to a triple century by Harry Brook on a flat pitch – and opted for spin-friendly conditions in the remaining two matches. Their spinners took all 40 wickets in those games, leading to a 2–1 series win.
This recently played Test is the third consecutive home match in which Pakistan's spinners have taken all 20 wickets, which is an unmatched achievement in the history of cricket. It is also the fifth such instance overall, with the first two occurring in the 20th century. The previous record of four such instances was held by India. Pakistan's current spin dominance is led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who have taken 26 and 28 wickets respectively in the last three home Tests. Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mahmood also contributed, with Ahmed taking five wickets and Mahmood taking one.
Historically, Pakistan had achieved similar feats in Test matches against West Indies in Faisalabad in 1980, when spinners Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Nazir and Abdul Qadir took all 20 wickets, and against England in 1987, where Abdul Qadir took 13 wickets, Tausif Ahmed took four and Iqbal Qasim took three wickets in the same match. At the global level, this feat was achieved by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka It has been repeated three times each by India and once by England. India is the only team to have achieved this feat in an overseas Test against New Zealand in Auckland in 1976.
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