Half-Centuries from The Duo Rescue Pakistan in Multan Against West Indies In The 1st Test

Half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan recover after Jayden Seales’ brilliant bowling had put the West Indies in control on the first day of the Test match in Multan. Seales took three crucial wickets early, reducing Pakistan to 46 for 4, but Rizwan and Shakeel steadied the innings with an unbeaten 97-run partnership that brought Pakistan back into the game.

The day started with a four-hour delay due to heavy fog, and when play began under floodlights, Pakistan opted to bat first in challenging conditions. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie opened the bowling and struck early, dismissing captain Shan Masood with a catch to debutant wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach. However, it was Seales who truly troubled Pakistan’s top order.

Seales’ first breakthrough came when debutant Mohammad Hurraira edged a delivery to the keeper. He followed it up with a beautiful delivery that dismissed Kamran Ghulam, who was caught off guard as the ball seamed back in and clipped the top of off-stump. The big wicket came when Seales removed Babar Azam with another excellent delivery that moved away just enough to find the edge. Babar’s review couldn’t save him, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position.

With the score at 46 for 4, Pakistan’s innings looked shaky. However, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan showed resilience and experience to rebuild. Shakeel, accustomed to playing on spin-friendly surfaces, dealt confidently with the bowlers, while Rizwan provided solid support at the other end. Together, they ensured Pakistan avoided a complete collapse.

After the tea break, the pair shifted gears, especially when Shakeel swept Kevin Sinclair for a boundary to reach his half-century. Rizwan also began to attack, using his feet to counter the spinners and keeping the scoreboard moving. The duo found gaps and rotated the strike effectively, hitting seven boundaries in just six overs during an aggressive phase of play.

Despite some close calls, including a delivery that nearly caught Shakeel at short midwicket, both batters reached their half-centuries, a testament to their grit and determination. As the light faded, the umpires called the players off the field during Kraigg Brathwaite’s over, ending a day where Pakistan had fought back admirably.

At stumps, Pakistan’s position looked much stronger than earlier in the day, thanks to the partnership between Rizwan and Shakeel. Their effort ensured Pakistan ended the day with a sense of control, while the West Indies will look to capitalize on the conditions when play resumes.