West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite has termed the first Test match against Pakistan as the “remarkable” contest after winning the game by one wicket on Monday (August 16) at Sabina Park, Jamaica, saying the hosts never lost hope in the game and it paid off.
He further admitted that the pitch at the Sabina Park was challenging that required patience and the West Indies showed a lot and eventually won the game to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Pakistan with the final Test scheduled on August 20 at the same venue.
Brathwaite told the host broadcaster after the game: “A remarkable Test. We never lost hope. Pakistan bowled very well, and this pitch requires patience from the batsmen. Whoever had more patience came out on top. We have some time before the next Test and it will be a different pitch. The bowlers did well, they were tired, but they gave it their all.”
The skipper continued, “We have been working hard as a batting group and Jermaine Blackwood is hungry for runs at his home ground so good on him. Pakistan will come back hard, but whoever is more patient will come out on top. I think this was a good cricket pitch -- had something for the pacers, and had value for runs because the ball was coming on.”
Chasing 168 for the win, West Indies lost its first three wickets with just 16 runs –Brathwaite (2), Kieran Powell (4), and Nkrumah Bonner (5) departed cheaply. Roston Chase (22), Blackwood (55), and Kemar Roach (30) put the hosts in front and won the game against Pakistan.
(With ANI Inputs)
