PAK vs WI: Noman Ali scripts history, becomes first Pakistani spinner to take hat-trick in Tests (WATCH)

Pakistan spinner Noman Ali scripted a historic feat on Day 1 of the second Test against West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium  on Saturday, January 25. 

Noman Ali became the first Pakistan spinner and the fifth bowler from the country after Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, and Naseem Shah to pick a hat-trick of wickets in the history of Test Cricket. The 38-year-old achieved the feat in the 12th over of West Indies batting. The visitors were already struggling to build momentum at 37/4 until Noman Ali’s magical bowling dismantled the West Indies’ middle-order of the batting line-up. 

Noman Ali began his hattrick of wickets by dismissing Justin Greaves for just 1 run, who was caught out by Babar Azam. Then, the veteran spinner followed up by dismissing Tevin Imlach for a golden duck, trapping him with leg between wicket (LBW) with a perfectly pitched delivery. The historic moment came when Kevin Sinclair was caught by Babar Azam for a golden duck. As soon as Noman Ali completed his hat-trick of wickets, entire Pakistan players at the dressing room and the Rawalpindi crowd stood up to applaud the spinner for achieving a historic feat in Test cricket. 

With Noman Ali’s hat-trick, West Indies’ batting line-up collapsed from 37/4 in 10.3 to 38/7 in 11.3 overs, leaving the visitors in a position of total disarray. The video of Noman Ali’s completing hat-trick of wickets was posted by Pakistan Cricket on its X handle (formerly Twitter). 

Watch the video here: 
 

Talking about the match, West Indies skipper Kraigg Braithwaite won the toss and opted to bat first in the second Test. However, the visitors’ decision to opt for batting completely backfired as Pakistan bowlers led by Noman Ali were relentless in their approach. After West Indies were reeling at 38/7, Kavem Hodge and Gudakesh Motie were looking to form a partnership to revive the team’s batting. 

However, Hodge walked back to the pavilion after being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed at 54/8. Thereafter, Motie was joined by Kemar Roach and the pair formed a 41-run partnership for the ninth wicket until the latter was dismissed by Noman Ali at 95/8. Then, Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican stitched a crucial 68-run stand for the 10th wicket to take West Indies past the 150-run mark until the former was dismissed for 55 at 168/10. Jomel Warrican remained unbeaten on 36. 

For Pakistan, Noman Ali led the bowling attack brilliantly as he registered figures of 6/41 at an economy rate of 2.70 in 15.1 overs. Apart from being first Pakistan spinner to take a hat-trick in Tests, Noman Ali became the oldest Pakistan to take a 5-wicket haul in Test innings. Sajjad Khan picked two wickets, while Kashif Ali and Abrar Ahmed scalped a wicket each.