On the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan, cricket fans witnessed an electrifying performance from Noman Ali, who achieved a remarkable hat-trick. This significant achievement underscored a day filled with fluctuating fortunes as the West Indies faced a dramatic collapse in their batting lineup.
Batting first after winning the toss, the West Indies were dismissed for a total of 163 runs within the first session. Following their innings, Pakistan struggled initially and was later bowled out for 154 runs, leading to a highly competitive day of cricket. Notably, during West Indies' innings, fast bowlers Gudakesh Motie and Kemar Roach were instrumental, each claiming two wickets early in the match. However, Pakistan's resistance came from a critical partnership worth 68 runs between Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, who scored 49 and 32 runs respectively for the fifth wicket.
Jomel Warrican of West Indies emerged as a key figure in the latter part of the innings, capturing four pivotal wickets. His dismissals included Shakeel, who was caught in the deep by a diving Roach, and Rizwan, who was stumped after being deceived by Warrican's clever spin. Noman Ali, batting at that moment, failed to get off the mark and left Pakistan in a precarious situation at 130 for 7. Salman Ali Agha, who scored only 9 runs, became Motie's third victim. Abrar Ahmed was bowled by Warrican for just 2 runs, and the debutant Kashif Ali was run out without scoring.
West Indies’ initial decision to bat on a turning pitch proved difficult, as their top order crumbled within the first hour of play. The visiting team's woes worsened dramatically in the 12th over, when Noman Ali, who finished the day with outstanding figures of 6 wickets for 41 runs, recorded the first Test hat-trick by a Pakistani spinner. Noman's landmark achievement involved dismissing Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair in quick succession, leaving the West Indies reeling at 38 for 7 and under severe pressure, making the possibility of a record low score seem imminent.
Despite the chaotic situation at the top of the order, the tailenders showed resilience. Motie's remarkable innings of 55 runs not only marked his maiden Test half-century but also helped stabilize the West Indies' total. Contributions from Roach, who scored 25 runs, along with Warrican's unbeaten 36 runs, culminated in the West Indies finishing their innings at 163, preventing an even more embarrassing collapse.
In the bowling department for Pakistan, Noman was well-supported by Sajid Khan, who secured two wickets, while debutant Kashif Ali added one wicket to the total. Pakistan's performance with the bat, however, left much to be desired, as they mustered only 154 runs in reply. The rivalry between the two teams in this second Test continued the trend set in the first Test, where Pakistan emerged victorious by a significant margin of 127 runs in just three days, marking it as the shortest completed Test match in Pakistan.
The day ended with Noman Ali standing out as the pivotal performer, not only for achieving a hat-trick but also for his overall dominance with the ball. As the match progresses, all eyes will be on how Pakistan adapts and responds in the second innings and whether the West Indies can build on their second innings to challenge their opponents effectively. The match remains finely balanced, with both teams having their moments of brilliance, making the prospect of the following days thrilling for cricket enthusiasts.