The two-match Test cricket series between Pakistan and the West Indies ended in a shared split of honours on Wednesday, after Pakistan secured an eight-wicket victory over the host side in the second fixture at Port-of-Spain’s Queen’s Park Oval. The result leaves both teams with one win apiece, bringing the series to a balanced 1-1 conclusion.
West Indies captain Roston Chase won the pre-match coin toss and elected to set a first-innings target batting first. The home side posted a solid total of 344 runs, built on standout middle-order contributions: opening batter Brandon King struck a brisk 46 runs off just 50 deliveries, all-rounder Justin Greaves continued his run of good form with a 73-run knock, and Chase himself added a steady 70 to the scoreboard. While several other West Indian batters got off to promising starts, none were able to convert their early momentum into large match-changing scores.
The series had seen a surprising lack of spin success in the opening Test, where spin bowlers failed to take a single wicket. That trend shifted dramatically in the second match, with Pakistan’s off-spinner Sajid Khan signalling the change in conditions by finishing the first innings with four wickets for 85 runs, setting the tone for spin-led play across both sides’ second innings.
Pakistan’s reply in the first innings was headlined by a career-defining performance from opener Abdullah Shafique, who scored a match-high 160 runs – the highest individual total recorded across the entire two-match series. Shafique received valuable support from Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who compiled an well-crafted 88 runs before being run out in a direct hit from Brandon King. The collision that ended Azam’s innings left King injured, forcing the batter to stretchered off the field and ruled him out of any further play in the fixture.
West Indies vice-captain Jomel Warrican turned in a dominant bowling performance in Pakistan’s first innings, taking six wickets for just 112 runs to restrict the visitors and keep the hosts in the match. However, West Indies’ batting collapsed in their second turn at the crease, as Pakistan’s spin pair of Sajid Khan and Ali Usman claimed four wickets each to dismantle the host batting line-up. West Indies were bowled out for only 117 runs, setting Pakistan a modest target of 75 runs to secure victory. The visitors chased down the required runs in rapid time, sealing the win to notch a rare away Test victory for Pakistan.
In an unusual move for international cricket, both Babar Azam of Pakistan and Justin Greaves of the West Indies were named joint Players of the Series for their consistent performances across both matches. While the West Indies retain their unbeaten record in home Test series this calendar year, the defeat marks their first loss in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.