'Why spin was not introduced early' - Danish Kaneria questions Pakistan's approach after Test loss against West Indies

It was a great day for cricket lovers across the globe. If England and India Test match had its fair shares of ups and downs, then the West Indies vs Pakistan one went a notch ahead with the latter winning a thriller of a game by just one wicket in Kingston. The two unpredictable teams yet again gave cricket fans few nervy moments before Kemar Roach creamed one through extra cover off Hasan Ali to bring parity to the situation.

Pakistan resumed day four, with their skipper Babar Azam at the crease, before Kyle Mayers dismissed him. As soon as the 26-year-old departed, the wickets kept tumbling, and eventfully the visitors could post 0nly 203, setting a target of 168 for the home team to chase. West Indies started on a bright note and were placed on 84 for three before panic struck and, they lost wickets in a cluster.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach though had other plans and he hung around patiently, first with wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva and then with Jayden Seales to see the home through by just one wicket. Pakistan for the umpteenth time, lost the match when they had it in their control. Cricketer-turned expert Danish Kaneria was not impressed by Pakistan’s performance and sarcastically Tweeted of how a seventh-ranked West Indies beat fifth-ranked Pakistan.

He also wrote about how the Men in Green’s fielding cost them the match. Mohammad Rizwan dropped a tough chance and, then later, Hasan Ali was seen dropping a sitter, which came back to haunt Pakistan in the closing stages of the game. Strangely, skipper Azam also held back his lead spinner Yasir Shah against the West Indies tail end batters, which Kaneria found amusing.

West Indies’ narrow win-wicket victory gives them the series lead of 1-0

It was just the 15th instance of the team winning the match by a margin of one wicket and, for West Indies, it was the third time and second time against Pakistan in Test matches. With West Indies showing the fight, determination, and character to win the first Test match, there is certainly the hope of their revival in the red-ball format. The two-match Test series will see the last match being played in Jamaica.