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Shakeel and Rizwan Rescue Pakistan After Seales’ Early Strikes in Multan Test Day 1

Explore the thrilling Day 1 of the Multan Test as Shakeel and Rizwan rescue Pakistan from early challenges. A must-read for cricket enthusiasts!

Introduction:

In a gripping day of Test cricket in Multan, half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan rescued Pakistan from early trouble after a stunning triple-strike from West Indies pacer Jayden Seales had put the visitors in control. By the close of play, Pakistan had clawed their way to a more secure position, thanks to an unbeaten 97-run partnership between Shakeel and Rizwan, with the scoreboard reading 143 for 4.
See also: West Indies Cruise Past Scotland with Dominant 6-Wicket Win: T20 WC

Seales Flourishes Early on a Friendly Spin Track

Despite the expectations that spin would dominate play on a dry and turning track, it was Jayden Seales who dominated the early goings. The match was delayed because of heavy fog, but when it finally started, Pakistan chose to bat first under hazy conditions lit up by floodlights. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie sent Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood back with a cheap dismissal, but Seales’ sharp fast bowling soon turned the game on its head.
See also: Noman and Sajid Dismantle West Indies in One-Session Masterclass: Day 2

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: Cricket West Indies

Seales first sent debutant Mohammad Hurraira, who nicked an away swinger to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach. Then Kamran Ghulam was a victim of a well-directed delivery, first driving an outswinger for four before missing an inswinger that clipped his thigh pad and was given lbw. Hawk-Eye confirmed the ball would have clipped the top of off stump, leaving Ghulam with no chance of reprieve.

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: Cricinfo

The prized wicket of Babar Azam soon followed. A hard-length delivery from Seales kissed the outside edge of Babar’s bat as he looked to defend. The skipper’s review was in vain, and Pakistan teetered at 46 for 4, West Indies completely in charge.

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: PCB

Shakeel and Rizwan Steady the Ship

At the same time when the innings was on the verge of collapse, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan provided stability to Pakistan’s innings. Shakeel, with his experience of playing on slow, turning pitches, showed composure, cleverly negotiating the spinners and negating the seamers’ threat.

Rizwan complemented Shakeel’s gritty approach with his characteristic concentration and calculated aggression. The pair played cautiously at first, nullifying the movement and bounce extracted by Seales and settling into a steady rhythm.

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: Cricinfo

Accelerating After Tea

After the tea break, Shakeel and Rizwan changed gears; they took the lead by hitting three fours in consecutive overs. It was Shakeel who set it all going; he swept Kevin Sinclair for four, a shot he was to come out with at will against the spinners thereafter. The subsequent six overs included seven boundaries taken by Pakistan and especially Rizwan, taking charge of it. Rizwan used the feet well while hitting gaps; this kept running for the Pakistan team and ensured pressure on the bowlers back again.

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: Cricinfo

Shakeel brought up his fifty with a delicate stroke that narrowly avoided short midwicket, while Rizwan followed soon after, reaching his milestone with equal flair. The partnership injected much-needed confidence into Pakistan’s innings, giving them hope of posting a competitive first-innings total.

Shakeel and Rizwan
Image Source: Cricinfo

Challenges Remain for Both Sides

Despite the duo’s resistance, West Indies were still a threat. Several deliveries narrowly missed the outside edge, and fielders around the bat kept the pressure on with sharp reflexes. The fading light added another layer of complexity, and with conditions deteriorating, play was eventually called off midway through Kraigg Brathwaite’s over.

Key Performances

Jayden Seales: The pick of the bowlers on the day, Seales capitalised on the seam-friendly conditions to devastating effect with three crucial wickets. He was accurate and able to move the ball both ways, helping West Indies start well.
Saud Shakeel: Showing great poise and technical mastery, Shakeel marshaled Pakistan’s innings, cutting both spinners and pacers with equal ease. His half-century was a statement of his growing prominence in Pakistan’s middle order.
Mohammad Rizwan: Mixing tenacity with moments of aggression, the innings played by Rizwan was critical to the rebuilding of Pakistan’s innings. His footwork against the spinners and quick singles kept the West Indies bowlers on their toes.

Looking Ahead

It’s finely poised, and Pakistan would look to carry on from where Rizwan and Shakeel have left off in pursuit of a total that would challenge the West Indies. As the pitch is going to deteriorate, spinners will play a larger role, so Pakistan’s middle and lower order must step up to ensure that they have a competitive score on the board.

For West Indies, first breakthroughs on the second morning, and they can regain the upper hand. Their bowlers had shown promise so far, but they’ll need to be more disciplined and capitalize on any opportunities that might come their way.

Closing Thoughts

Multan’s opening day was an intriguing contest between bat and ball, as both sides caught glimpses of their potential. At the end of the day, Pakistan is in a less precarious position than it was at the morning session, but the match remains open for either side to take control.

West Indies will be well in control in limiting Pakistan’s total with the two skilled spinners and Seales in excellent form, but if Shakeel and Rizwan are able to keep going, there is a real chance that the game could swing again in their favour.

Author

  • Ideapot

    Welcome to my world! I'm Goutam Kumar Dutta, the brains behind this platform. As an author and the proud owner of this site, I'm on a mission to bring you the latest and most intriguing sports news from various genres. But it's not just about sports - entertainment in all its forms also captivates my interest. Whether it's analyzing the latest match or delving into the world of entertainment, I strive to provide comprehensive coverage and valuable insights.

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