(Sports Desk) – Pakistan defeated West Indies by eight wickets in the second and final Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Wednesday, drawing the two-match test series 1-1 after a dominant fourth-day performance.
Chasing a modest target of 75 runs, Pakistan reached the winning total after losing two early wickets, with Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guiding the visitors home. Babar finished the match in style, hitting consecutive sixes off West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican to secure victory.
The win came after Pakistan suffered a 90-run defeat in the opening Test and marked a strong comeback in the Caribbean. The result also ended Pakistan’s long wait for a Test victory at Queen’s Park Oval, with their previous win at the venue coming in 1977.
West Indies, who resumed their second innings at 103 for six, were bowled out for just 117 within half an hour of the fourth day’s play. Pakistan’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the morning session, with left-arm spinner Ali Usman and pacer Mohammad Ali completing the final stages of the collapse.
Usman claimed two of the last three wickets to fall, finishing with innings figures of four for 39 and match figures of six for 119. Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the leading performer for Pakistan overall, taking eight wickets in the match, including a crucial four for 32 in West Indies’ second innings.
Shafique shines on return
Abdullah Shafique produced a memorable performance after being added to the squad as a replacement for injured captain Shan Masood.
The opener played a match-defining innings of 160 runs in Pakistan’s first innings, helping the visitors post 387 and establish control over the contest. His contribution proved decisive in Pakistan’s successful turnaround after the first Test loss.
Shafique was supported by Babar Azam, who contributed a vital knock of 88 in the first innings before sealing victory with an aggressive finish in the chase.
Spinners deliver series-levelling win
Pakistan’s decision to strengthen their spin attack paid off as Sajid Khan and Ali Usman played leading roles in dismantling the West Indies batting lineup.
Sajid, who was left out of the opening Test, made an immediate impact after returning to the side. His match-winning spell helped Pakistan break through the West Indies lower order and put the visitors in a commanding position.
The West Indies innings was also affected by the absence of opening batter Brandon King, who could not bat after suffering back spasms while attempting a run-out of Babar Azam during the previous day’s play.
Historic Caribbean comeback
Pakistan’s victory continued a pattern of strong recoveries in the Caribbean. During their 2021 tour, Pakistan also lost the opening Test before winning the second match to level the series.
The latest triumph also ended Pakistan’s poor away Test record, which had seen them lose eight consecutive matches outside home conditions since a heavy defeat against Australia in Perth in December 2023.
For West Indies, the defeat extended their struggles against Pakistan, while the visitors will take confidence from their bowling depth and the emergence of Shafique as a key batting figure.
Pakistan now return home with renewed momentum after securing a hard-fought series draw in challenging Caribbean conditions.
