The Multan Test between Pakistan and West Indies delivered a day full of historic moments, with Noman Ali’s hat-trick leading the way. The veteran spinner not only became the first Pakistani spinner to achieve a hat-trick in Test cricket but also set multiple records on a remarkable day of cricket where 20 wickets fell. Let’s dive into the key moments and milestones of this thrilling encounter.
Noman Ali’s Hat-Trick: A Moment for the History Books
Noman Ali achieved a rare feat in cricket by becoming the first Pakistan spinner to take a hat-trick in Test matches. His victims included Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair. This hat-trick placed him among an elite group of Pakistani bowlers, following in the footsteps of Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, and Naseem Shah.
At 38 years and 110 days, Noman is also the second-oldest player in Test cricket to claim a hat-trick, after Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, who achieved the milestone at 38 years and 139 days.
Six Wickets Before Lunch: A Rare Achievement
Noman didn’t stop at the hat-trick. He claimed six wickets in the first session, becoming the first Pakistan bowler and the sixth overall in Test cricket history to achieve this feat. The spinner’s performance completely dismantled the West Indies top and middle order, reducing them to a shocking 54 for 8 before lunch.
West Indies’ Lower-Order Fightback
Despite their struggles at the top, West Indies’ lower-order continued their trend of resilience. Gudakesh Motie (55), Kemar Roach (25), and Jomel Warrican (36*) added valuable runs, with 41.72% of their total score contributed by the 10th-wicket partnership. This remarkable effort lifted West Indies to 163, giving them a competitive total on a challenging pitch.
A Spin-Dominated Opening Day
The Multan pitch offered significant turn and bounce, creating a paradise for spinners. Out of the 20 wickets that fell on the opening day, 16 were taken by spinners, setting a new record for the most wickets by spinners on the first day of a Test match.
This surpassed the previous record of 14 wickets, set in a Test between England and South Africa in 1907 at Leeds.
Key Records Broken in Multan
- First Day Records:
- The 20 wickets that fell in Multan are the most ever on the opening day of a Test match in Asia, surpassing the 18 wickets that fell during the India vs. West Indies match in Delhi in 1987.
- Fastest Collapse:
- Pakistan’s bowlers took just 69 balls to reduce West Indies to their first seven wickets, marking the third-fastest collapse in men’s Test cricket since 1999.
- Low Scoring for West Indies:
- West Indies lost their seventh wicket with the score at 38 runs, the second-lowest total for the team against Pakistan in Tests.
FAQs
Q1: Who are the other Pakistani bowlers with Test hat-tricks?
Noman Ali joins the likes of Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, and Naseem Shah in achieving Test hat-tricks.
Q2: How many wickets did Noman Ali take before lunch?
Noman Ali took six wickets before lunch, making him the first spinner to achieve this on the opening day of a Test match.
Q3: Why was the Multan pitch so challenging?
The pitch offered sharp turn and variable bounce, favoring spinners and making life difficult for the batters.
Q4: How did the West Indies tailenders perform?
Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, and Jomel Warrican scored 55, 25, and 36*, respectively, contributing significantly to their team’s total of 163.
