Pakistan Trails as Gudakesh Motie Strikes Early
Gudakesh Motie's early strike and Kemar Roach's dismissal of Muhammad Hurraira have put Pakistan on the back foot, trailing by 138 runs on day 1 of the 2nd Test against West Indies.
The second Test match between Pakistan and West Indies is underway in Multan, with the home team facing an uphill battle after a dismal start on day 1. Pakistan trails by 138 runs, with openers Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique back in the pavilion, courtesy of some brilliant bowling by Kemar Roach and Gudakesh Motie.
The West Indies bowlers, particularly Gudakesh Motie, have taken advantage of the spin-friendly pitch, which Pakistan's interim head coach, Aaqib Javed, had prepared to exploit the visiting team's weaknesses against spin. However, it seems the plan has backfired, at least on the first day, as Motie's flat delivery bowled Babar Azam for just 1 run. Kemar Roach, on the other hand, removed Muhammad Hurraira for 9 runs, leaving Pakistan reeling.
The West Indies team, led by Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, has been working on their strategy to tackle spin, and their efforts seem to be paying off. The team has also recognized the importance of runs from the lower order, an area where Pakistan has traditionally struggled. With Alick Athanaze scoring a half-century in the three-day game before the series, the West Indies batting lineup looks promising.
As the match progresses, Pakistan will need to regroup and come up with a solid plan to tackle the West Indies bowlers and make a comeback. The team is aware that a series victory will send a positive message heading into the next cycle of Test cricket. With the pitch expected to favor spinners, it will be interesting to see how the Pakistani batsmen respond to the challenge.