Pakistanis by heart saying “catches win matches “

By Brain Thomas

Lest we forget, we turn our focus to Sabina Park in Kingston Jamaica , Test Match number 2431 is scheduled to get underway tomorrow between Pakistan and the West Indies. 

Pakistan has by hearted the old cricket saying ” Catches Win Matches” , as they dropped two pivotal opportunities, to lose the 1st Test by one wicket in the final session of the 5th day. Fingers were pointed at Hasan Ali, the Pakistani seamer for dropping last man Kema Roach when he was just 16 runs at Square Leg. End result is he hung in there made 30 Not out with a relatively inexperienced tail-ender in 20-year-old Jayden Seales huffing and puffing on an unbeaten 6 runs at the non strikers end, as Kema Roach square drove Hassan Ali in the 5th ball of his 17th over to see the home side take a one-nil lead in the two-match series. What’s pertinent is, West Indies get 10 vital points and open their account in WTC points table for 2021-2023.

Sabina Park offered a slow pitch, with swing, and a slow outfield, hence run making was difficult. However West Indian Captain,Kraigg Braithwaite thought different, he made 97 but in his quench for a three-figure score was run out. Even Babar Azam the Pakistani Captain made 55 in a relatively low-scoring Test Match.

At the post-match press conference Kraigg Braithwaite summed it up by saying ” Remarkable Test ” , whilst his counterpart Babar Azam said, ” Nail Biting Test what a beauty “.

Experts feel the 2nd Test will be played on a better pitch. In all honesty, it is very difficult for any expert to be Gospel on how a pitch will behave in any venue.

Being a cricket scribe for a little over 2 and a half decades, and having views spoken to me by many experts, I assure you none of them get it to spot on. Pitch is made of earth, prediction given by human, hence we can excuse the experts for not being spot on more often than not.

Pakistan will have to improve in all three departments of the game.  The fielding coach must have done extra work with the boys after the conclusion of the 1st Test. Pakistani bowling has been very impressive.  They will vary of the newfound star of Caribbean Cricket in 20-year-old Jayden Seales, he had an excellent game with the new ball. 3 for 70 in the first innings and a 5 for in the second, 5 for 55.
West Indies still bank on Jason Holder , and Kraigg Braithwaite to come good always, but the others will have to rally around the West Indian flag, as the lyrics in their  National Anthem states.