Noman Ali became the first Pakistan spinner to take a hat-trick. © AFP Noman Ali became the first Pakistan spinner to claim a Test hat-trick, among his six-fer, as West Indies collapsed to 54/8 inside 17 overs after opting to bat on the opening day of the second Test in Multan on Saturday (January 25). The tail then put up a fight, led by Gudakesh Motie’s maiden Test fifty, as the visitors ended an extended opening session with a relatively respectable first innings score of 163. West Indies’ batting struggles against spin continued for the third successive innings on this tour. However, it was the pace of Pakistan’s debutant, Kashif Ali, that dealt the first blow in the morning as he struck in his very first over in international cricket to send back Mikyle Louis. Next to depart was West Indies’ debutant, trapped LBW by Sajid Khan without troubling the scorers. Noman then joined the act with a first-over wicket to break the budding partnership between Kraigg Brathwaite and Kavem Hodge when he trapped the skipper LBW for nine. Brathwaite reviewed, but to no avail. Justin Greaves became the first victim of his hat-trick in his succeeding over, edging to slips where Babar Azam took a neat catch. Tevin Imlach then went for a pre-meditated sweep and was caught plumb in front. Noman completed the rare feat with Kevin Sinclair’s wicket, courtesy another sharp, low catch from Babar at gully this time. Just before the hat-trick, Sajid had Alick Athanaze LBW with an arm-ball that angled back in and struck the front pad as the batter tried to reverse sweep. Having witnessed the collapse from the other end, Hodge fell on 21 to Abrar Ahmed. He also fell attempting a sweep – getting a top-edge that went to forward short-leg on rebound after striking the batter’s helmet. At a time when it seemed West Indies might fold soon, resistance came from the lower order once more and a 41-run partnership ensued between Motie (55) and Kemar Roach (25). Together the pair put West Indies on course for a face-saving score in triple digits. Noman, though, had Roach trapped LBW plumb to complete his fifer, and later Motie to make it an innings haul of 6 for 41. Much like in the previous Test, Joel Warrican entertained with his attacking batting when the visitors had nothing to lose. With Motie, he put on a 68-run stand, hitting two tall sixes en route to his unbeaten 40-ball cameo of 36. Brief scores: West Indies 163 (Gudakesh Motie 55, Jomel Warrican 36*; Noman Ali 6-41, Sajid Khan 2-64) vs Pakistan.
