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.
Salman: "Those haunting drop catches :/ "
All men in except fine leg. Nerves...
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
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... "
Over the wicket to Seales
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
Around the wicket to Seales
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."
