West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves made history on Monday during the first ICC World Test Championship Test against Pakistan in Trinidad. Greaves became the first bowler in Test cricket, since records became widely available, to achieve five consecutive wicket maidens. This significant feat occurred during an impactful spell on the third day of the match.
Greaves’ performance was a game-changer, particularly around the lunch break, as he dismantled the visitors’ batting order. This marked his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, surpassing the previous record of four consecutive wicket maidens set by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2016.
The all-rounder attributed his success to a straightforward approach, following the advice of West Indies skipper Roston Chase. Chase encouraged him to maintain discipline and bowl in good areas to secure wickets for the team. Greaves noted that the ball was nipping around, which allowed him to reap the rewards of his consistent bowling.
Greaves expressed his satisfaction with achieving his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, while also acknowledging that there was still significant work to be done in the ongoing match. He highlighted his role as a reliable player for the team, expected to help them out of challenging situations whenever he has the ball in hand.
Pakistan’s collapse and Greaves’ impact
Before Greaves’ impactful spell, Pakistan appeared to be in a strong position to establish a substantial lead in their first innings. They were comfortably placed at 244/3, with former captain Shan Masood having just reached his century. However, Greaves initiated a collapse by dismissing Masood, marking the beginning of a rapid decline for Pakistan.
Following Masood’s dismissal, Greaves continued his impressive run, taking the wickets of Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, and Mohammad Rizwan in successive overs without conceding any runs. This devastating spell saw Pakistan struggle to 267/8 by lunch, putting them in a precarious situation in response to the West Indies’ first innings total of 311.
After the lunch break, Greaves completed his five consecutive wicket maidens by having Mohammad Abbas caught behind in his very first over. This brought an end to Pakistan’s innings, as they were all out for 282. Greaves’ inspired seam bowling, delivered by the experienced right-armer, played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan’s total.
On Day 2, Pakistan had shown resilience, ending the day at 199/3 in response to the West Indies’ 311. Shan Masood, who had recently stepped down from the captaincy, led the recovery with an unbeaten 88. He was supported by Imam-ul-Haq, who scored 63, forming a vital 155-run partnership.
Pakistan had lost an early wicket when Azan Awais was bowled by Kemar Roach. However, Masood and Imam stabilized the innings with positive strokeplay. Masood reached his half-century quickly, while Imam achieved his 11th Test fifty before his dismissal. New captain Babar Azam contributed 23 runs before falling late in the day, with Salman Agha remaining unbeaten alongside Masood when bad light ended play early.
West Indies’ first innings and series outlook
The West Indies had been bowled out for 311 in their first innings, having resumed the day at 194/3. Shai Hope was the top scorer with 92 runs, narrowly missing a century, while Kavem Hodge added 84. Hope anchored the innings despite losing partners regularly, receiving useful contributions from players like Shamar Joseph, who scored a quick 23.
Pakistan’s bowlers had managed to pull things back after the West Indies’ strong start. Mohammad Ali claimed four wickets, and Mohammad Abbas took three, making an immediate impact with the second new ball. Khurram Shahzad also contributed by removing Hodge, helping Pakistan conclude the innings before their batters took control through Masood and Imam.
Despite Greaves’ heroics, Pakistan managed to fight back before stumps on the third day, reducing the hosts to 126/7. This gave the West Indies an overall lead of 155 runs, with Shamar Joseph (22*) and Kemar Roach (5*) remaining at the crease heading into the fourth day. The first Test is scheduled from July 25-29 in Tarouba, with the second Test set for August 2-6 in Port of Spain.
Source: icc-cricket.com
