The second and final test match between West Indies and Pakistan gets under way at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica on Friday, West Indies edged a thrilling first contest and the hosts need to avoid defeat to claim a series win.
The first test was also staged at Sabina Park, Pakistan started favourites but West Indies eveentually held their nerve to claim a 1 wicket victory.
West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first and the decision paid off as Pakistan were all out for 217. Alam top scored with 56 and Ashraf made 44, Jayden Seales and Jason Holder both claimed 3 wickets and Kemar Roach 2.
In reply skipper Brathwaite was run out for 97 but the support only came down the order with Holder making 58 and West Indies 1st innings closed on 253. Shaheen Afridi took 4 wickets and Mohammad Abbas 3.
In the second innings Babar Azam top scored with 55 as Pakistan were all out for 203, Seales took 5 wickets and Roach 3.
West Indies eventually got home but only after a number of scares including the first 3 wickets going down with just 16 runs on the board. Jermaine Blackwood top scored with 55 but it was down to the bowlers to get them over the line with Kemar Roach finishing unbeaten on 30, sharing a 17 run 10th wicket partnership with Seals who was named Man of the Match.
This was how the teams lined up in the first test.
West Indies - Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Kieran Powell, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican
Pakistan - Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi
The Venue Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
Since 2012 Sabina Park has hosted 8 test matches with West Indies winning 3, losing 4 and we have seen 1 draw.
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The Betting - 2nd Test
West Indies are currently trading at around 9/4 to win the game with the draw a 13/5 chance and Pakistan can be backed at around 11/10
Brathwaite is 11/4 favourite to top score for West Indies in the first innings and Babar Azam is 9/4 to do likewise for Pakistan.
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
That was some test match and there is surely scope for changes to both batting line ups for this final match of Pakistan's tour.
Kraigg Brathwaite's first innings knock last week was the stand out batting performance and hence I will include him as top WI first innings bat.
I can't help thinking Pakistan have more depth when it comes to quality performers and I fancy they can square the series. The visitors skipper is due a big knock and gets my vote to be Man of the Match.
Bet: Top WI 1st Innings Bat Kraigg Brathwaite at 11/4
Pakistan to win the match at 11/10
Man of the Match Babar Azam at 11/2
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Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
