![Justin Greaves makes big statements after West Indies beat Pakistan [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1785301835623_JustinGreavesPakistan.jpg?type=hq)
Justin Greaves makes big statements after West Indies beat Pakistan [Source: X]
West Indies pulled off a historic 90-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the 2-game series held at Brian Lara Stadium. Interestingly, the star performer of the game, Justin Greaves, ended up thanking a Pakistani player for the win.
The Windies batted beautifully in the first innings to put 311 runs on the board. In the second innings, Pakistan collapsed, thanks to Greaves, as he picked up a five-wicket-haul.
Justin Greaves credits Mohammad Abbas for his success
Having said that, Justin Greaves was absolutely ruthless in the second innings. He dismissed centurion Shan Masood on 109 to break the 155-run partnership brewing between him and Imam-ul-Haq.
Mohammad Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman and Mohammad Abbas were his next victims as he completed his five-wicket-haul. Interestingly, after the game, Greaves made a surprising comment.
Justin said he took cues from Mohammad Abbas for bowling strategy. Apparently, Greaves bowled full-length deliveries just like Abbas did in the first innings, and it worked wonderfully for him.
"I mimicked Mohammad Abbas' fuller lengths when he bowled against us in the first and second innings and it pretty much worked out for us," Justin Greaves told media.
Abbas also picked up a fifer in the third innings and three wickets in the first innings. However, his efforts proved to be not good enough as the West Indies performed as a whole unit to outclass them.
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Justin Greaves scripts rare record
Interestingly, Justin Greaves became the first bowler in Test cricket history to take wickets in five consecutive maiden overs. Before Greaves, the record belonged to former England pacer Stuart Broad, who bowled four consecutive wicket-maidens against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2016.
Greaves surpassed that record by taking a wicket in five successive maiden overs. And what makes this spell even more commendable is the situation that broke Pakistan.
Pakistan were sailing on 158/2, thanks largely to ex-captain Shan Masood's century. However, Justin Greaves completely changed the course of the game by picking 5 wickets in consecutive maiden overs.
He finished with career-best figures of 5/27 in 11 overs and eventually won the Player of the Match award.
The Babar Azam era begins on a sour note
With that loss against West Indies in the first Test, Pakistan once again stooped to a new low. Before the tour, Babar Azam was reappointed as captain.
He replaced Shan Masood, who had a poor run for almost two years. However, the change in leadership didn’t bring any positivity on the field. Pakistan appeared clueless and collapsed from comfortable situations.
Babar Azam, as captain, also struggled in the first innings, scoring 23. But he did redeem himself in the second innings to stay unbeaten on 58 while chasing 211 runs.
Due to lack of support from the rest of the squad, Pakistan ended up getting bundled out for 120 runs, thus losing by 90 runs. The second Test of the series will be held at Queen’s Park on August 2.
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