West Indies bagged a comfortable 90-run win over Pakistan in the first Test at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Tuesday, July 28.
Shifting our focus to the details of the first Test, West Indies batted first and posted a whopping total of 311 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, Pakistan could score only 282 runs, conceding the lead to the hosts.
In the third innings, the hosts got bundled out for 181 runs. In the fourth innings, Pakistan managed to score only 120 runs, losing the game by 90 runs. West Indies is currently leading the two-match series 1-0.
Roston Chase, West Indies skipper:
[On winning the first-ever Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and dedicating it to Sir Garfield Sobers] It’s a great feeling, and we really want to dedicate this victory to the late, great Sir Garfield Sobers. Even before the game we spoke about wanting to come out here and make him proud. I hope he’s smiling in his grave right now. I also want to thank the Trinidad crowd for coming out and supporting us. It wasn’t the biggest crowd, but they gave us all the energy and support we needed to put in a really good performance. [On what pleased him most about the victory] I think it was the effort the bowlers put in after that second hour yesterday. We didn’t get any wickets in the first hour, but the patience and discipline they showed afterwards were magnificent. I think we picked up five or six wickets in that session, and that really set the game up for us. [On the team’s collective contributions] Yeah, I love it. I love the direction this team is heading in. We’re not relying on one or two players; everyone is chipping in at crucial moments. We sat together yesterday evening and hoped for at least another 50 runs this morning, and Shamar along with the bowlers really applied themselves. I think that gave us the confidence to go out there and finish the job today. [On earning an extra day’s rest before the second Test] It’s always a lovely feeling to get a day off, so yeah, I’m happy about that.
Babar Azam, Pakistan skipper:
[On Pakistan’s defeat] Yes, the result wasn’t in our hands, but over the last two days we played some good cricket. Today, though, as a batting unit, we weren’t up to the mark. We kept losing wickets back-to-back and the batting failed. That’s something we’re working on. [On whether the surface, West Indies’ bowling or Pakistan’s batting was the bigger factor] The surface was good. We expected some movement with the new ball because that’s natural here, and we were prepared for that. But I think they bowled very well and used the conditions brilliantly. By the fourth day the ball was keeping a bit low and bouncing unevenly. We weren’t able to build partnerships, and that’s why we lost. [On Shan Masood’s injury and its impact] Yes, it affected us because unfortunately his finger isn’t in good condition. It’s fractured, so we definitely missed him. But at the same time, when you’re facing the new ball you have to survive the first 20 overs, build partnerships, and then as the ball gets older the pitch becomes easier to bat on. We couldn’t put together those partnerships. [On Pakistan’s run of away defeats] Yeah, we will sit together and discuss these things because while the result isn’t in our hands, we can certainly address our mistakes. We will do our best to change those things.
Justin Greaves, Player of the match:
[On taking the first five-wicket haul at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy] Yeah, it’s right up there. Whatever it takes to get the team over the line, I always try to put my best foot forward. To come away with a Test win in the first Test played at this stadium is really, really special for us. [On what worked for him on this surface] Just being disciplined. One of the things we spoke about in the dressing room after the first innings was that we needed to start better, and we did that. After that, it was just about staying as disciplined as possible. [On the lengths he bowled and his assessment of the pitch] Yeah, look, watching Mohammad Abbas bowl really, really well against us in both innings, the lengths he bowled were a lot fuller. So I just tried to mimic that, and it pretty much worked out for us. [On balancing preparation as an all-rounder] Yeah, that’s pretty much up to the medical staff. But for me, once we get into practice sessions, it’s all about being very detailed in what I’m doing and then trying to execute those plans once the game starts.
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