Published: Oct 20, 2016, 06:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 20, 2016, 06:08 PM (IST)
They way the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies began, it was expected to end in the same manner i.e One sided domination by Pakistan as their top order batting order had already done that thanks to Azhar Ali‘s maiden triple century of unbeaten 302 to take Pakistan to a mammoth total of 579 in the first innings. The last time West Indies had a taste of win was all the way back in the month of August when they played against India in the two Twenty20 International matches if which they won the first by just one run and the later one was abandoned due to rain. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi
Since that series, West Indies have played one T20I series of three matches, one One-Day International series (ODI) series and are into a three-match Test series off which they have already played one. So to be precisely precise, West Indies have played a total of 7 matches and have lost all of them. I am here excluding the washed out T20I against India and so hence a total of 7 matches. In all these 7 matches that they played, the only time they looked competitive against their opponents was in the first Test match against Pakistan which was also the first day-night Test with the pink-ball night Test that these two teams played and second overall in the history of cricket. After Pakistan’s 550+ total in the first innings, it was expected that the visitors would carry on with usual trend of succumbing quickly and ending up giving follow-on and eventually losing the game.
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But to everyone’s shock, the gritty fight which the visitors ended up putting in all the five days of the match was not expected after the horrid show they had put up since the time they had landed n UAE as they endured whitewash in both T20I and ODI series. truth be told, there was a feeling of a fight to be put up which the West Indians had in their mind when they took to bat in their first innings which was followed up with rest of the play in the first Test. Their bowling looked utterly useless in the first innings as all the Pakistani top order batsman came in and scored runs easily without any finch. It felt as if the visitors would come in running, bowl the ball on the wicket and again go back to their bowling mark to start again until the day was played out. This is the extent of tastelessness that was put on display by the visitors bowling unit.
But things took a drastic change from the Day Three and then we witnessed some the unusual action wherein we saw plenty of wickets falling down, to be precise 30. It did involve exceptional bowling from both sides, Devendra Bishoo being the star (from the losing side). But given the way the first Test fared out, it was very unexpected but was worth witnessing. Westy Indies did lose this match by 56 runs, but it is certain that they would have taken a lot of positive things from that defeat, something which they would not have been able to do in the previous 6 defeats. The sturdiness showed by Marlon Samuels in the first innings and a classic ton from Darren Bravo in the second innings and of course the 8 for by Bishoo in the second innings which bundled up the strong Pakistan top order batting at a puny total of 123.
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It would have been actually a shame for Pakistan if they had lost the series opener as West Indies was cruising once when they had Bravo at the crease, but it took some special lone effort from Yasir Shah to grab a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Bravo who was looking easy at the crease. Given the way all these events happening in the first Test, the second one has had a lot of anticipation revolving around it. West Indies are now expected to give a tough fight back to Pakistan after their impressive yet not good enough for victory effort in the first match.
The problem with West Indies has been consistency. They may have played well in the first match, but it can’t be guaranteed that they would do the same in the second match. Firstly they will have to make sure that they do not let the game slip out of their hands and even if it does they keep their spirits alive and try bouncing back with variations by getting different bowlers. When it comes to their performance with the bat, Samuels has to perform for his team. It can be definitely said that his wicket which Mohammad Aamer got on the very first ball of Day Five had put the match in Pakistan’s court which looked at balance before. Bravo did score a century in the second innings but the way he got out in the first innings is something which he should not be repeating again. Their openers had a terrible match as Kraigg Brathwaite and Leon Johnson got out cheaply in both innings. It is vital that they get off to a good start and these two batsmen make sure that their team at least reaches a respectable total before they play loose shots which end up as their wicket.
As for Pakistan, nothing much went wrong for them until the second session began. After they had mounted a total of 576 in the first innings, they were contorted for just 123 in the second. They did try scoring quick runs which resulted in they giving away their wickets but still the runs which they had put against West Indies as target never looked enough. They did try various variations towards the ending stage of the game to get rid of Bravo, but nothing worked until Shah’s all alone effort got him out. The hosts will just have to re-brush their tactics and strategies as they failed them and had them stand on the verge of what would have been a shameful defeat. Moreover, this second Test will be a literal different ball game as the ball switches from pink-ball to red and so will the timing of the match.
So with these, all things being kept in mind and consideration, the second Test match should become a crunch game and the visitors will have to win this if they wish to see the first victory in the UAE to avoid getting defeated beforehand and eventually to play the third and final Test of the series.
(Rohan A. Sawant is a reporter for CricketCountry. He loves Football, Cricket and is a die-hard Arsenal fan. He is an avid writer and has some knowledge about cricket and so he is trying his best to pour with his Laptop as he finds writing with pen and paper very clumsy. You can follow him on Twitter @iswandering)
