West Indies Batting Collapses to 163 Against Noman Ali's Six-Wicket Haul in Multan Test

Noman Ali's Hat-Trick Highlights Pakistan's Dominant Bowling Performance Against West Indies in Crucial World Test Championship Match

By M Muzamil Shami - January 25, 2025

MULTAN, Pakistan – Pakistani spinners, spearheaded by a mesmerizing performance from Noman Ali (6 wickets for 41 runs), bundled out the West Indies for a meager 163 on the opening day of the final Test match at Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday. This dominant display puts Pakistan in a commanding position in this crucial World Test Championship encounter.

Noman Ali’s exceptional spell included a sensational hat-trick in the 12th over, dismissing Justin Greaves (1), Tevin Imlach (0), and Kevin Sinclair (0) in quick succession, crippling the West Indies top order. Sajid Khan further contributed with 2 wickets for 64 runs, while Kashif Ali and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with one wicket each, conceding 16 and 24 runs respectively.

Despite the top-order collapse, the West Indies tailenders showed some resistance. Gudakesh Motie top-scored with a resilient 55 runs, while Jomel Warrican remained unbeaten on 36, and Kemar Roach added a valuable 25 runs. Kavem Hodge (21) was the only other batsman to reach double figures, highlighting the struggles of the West Indies batting lineup against Pakistan’s spin attack.

Opting to bat first on a spin-friendly Multan pitch, the same surface where Pakistan secured victory in the previous Test, proved to be a disastrous decision for the visitors. Seven West Indies batsmen, including captain Kraigg Brathwaite, failed to reach double digits, succumbing to the relentless pressure applied by Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed.

A brief partnership between Hodge and Motie provided a glimmer of hope for the West Indies, but Noman Ali’s hat-trick extinguished any chance of a significant recovery. This outstanding bowling performance by Pakistan mirrored their success in the first Test at Multan.

Pakistan, leading the two-match series 1-0 after a 127-run victory in the first Test, handed a debut to 30-year-old fast bowler Kashif Ali, replacing Khurram Shahzad. The West Indies were forced to make changes as well, with Kemar Roach replacing the injured Jayden Seales, and Amir Jangoo making his Test debut in place of Keacy Carty.

This Test series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle, with Pakistan currently ranked eighth and the West Indies languishing at the bottom in ninth position.

Prior to the match, West Indies captain Brathwaite expressed his team's determination to bounce back and level the series. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the spin-friendly conditions and emphasized the need for his team to show resilience and confidence.

Pakistan Squad: 

Shan Masood (captain), Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Kashif Ali, Abrar Ahmed

West Indies Squad: 

Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

Match Officials:

• Umpires: Rodney Tucker (AUS) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
• TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
• Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Keywords: Noman Ali, West Indies, Pakistan, Multan Test, Cricket, Six-fer, Hat-trick, World Test Championship, PAKvWI, Spin Bowling, Cricket News, Test Match, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite.