Pakistan vs West Indies: Shaheen awarded with man of the series title after Pakistan win

Pakistan won the second Test match against West Indies by 109 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi played a major role in leading the team to victory and ultimately, leveling the series.

Shaheen completed his 10-wicket haul, which was the major contribution to the victory.

With a day and an inning loss due to rain and a damp pitch on the morning session during the weekend, Shaheen kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with his outstanding performance during the last two days. He took six wickets for 51 runs on day four, which comes out to be the best figures of his career. He continued to strike critical blows on the final day too.

Just before it seemed that weather would ruin the play once again, Shaheen came back for another spell with the new ball and took the final two wickets and give his team a tremendous win with only an hour remaining.

The host started the day with 49 for one wicket. However, the top order crumbled as the team went under pressure while chasing the target of 329. Before lunch, West Indies were 113-6.

With the new ball and only two wickets to win, Shaheen dismissed Kemar Roach off leg-before wicket (lbw). After he dismissed Joshua da Silva to seal the victory for Pakistan.

Like in 2005 and 2011, Pakistan lost the first match this time. However, under the captaincy of Babar Azam, the national team secured the victory in the second Test.

“This was a very important win for us, especially given the way we lost that first Test,” said Babar, reflecting on the heart-breaking one-wicket defeat at the same venue nine days earlier.

“My partnership with Fawad Alam and his brilliant century was, of course, valuable, but I have to give massive credit to the bowling of Shaheen because he makes things a lot easier for us.”

The team’s efforts paid off

Shaheen took four wickets for 43 runs in the second inning, which gave him a match haul of ten wickets for 94. This was his personal best. He was awarded man of the match and man of the series as well.

“It was a great effort, a team effort. This is what the team needed and I am just happy that I was able to deliver,” said the left-arm pacer.

“It was really tough out there, extremely hot and even though we were picking up wickets along the way we really had to work very hard and credit must go to the entire bowling unit.”

Shaheen knocked down Alzarri Joseph via to-edge. Later he broke the partnership between Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder.

“Consistency is what we need. I just think it is a mindset because Test cricket is never wasy and all the guys technically can bat,” said Brathwaite when it was all over in attempting to pinpoint the cause of his team’s repeated batting failures.

“We have to find ways to build innings, to cope with the first 30 balls and get through those tough periods.”

Also Read

Umar Akmal returns to club cricket as a part of rehabilitation program

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal started playing matches in club cricket after Pakistan...