Do people still insist that test cricket is boring?
Well, if anyone was following the final day of the first Betway test match in the ongoing series, between Pakistan and the West Indies, they might just want to rethink that moot.
The drama was played out at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, on Sunday 15th August-the scheduled penultimate day of the test match.
It was certainly not a game for the faint-hearted and this was one occasion when a test match became even more exciting than a T-20 encounter.
The game see-sawed from one team to the other and then finally, it seemed all over by the shouting, as West Indies needing 168 for victory, found themselves still needing all of 17 runs, with just a cool and calculated Kemar Roach at the crease, but partnered by the inexperienced 19-year-old Jayden Seales, fresh from a fiver in Pakistan’s last innings, but certainly not known for his batting prowess.
However, die-hard Windies fans still listened and those who needed them must have taken their blood pressure tablets and their heart calmers.
The excitable radio commentators were not of much help either, as their voices raised in excitement, for almost every delivery bowled.
It took seconds to figure out whether it was another hard-earned single, two or boundary, or another near-missed edge or dropped catch.
It all happened in one afternoon of frenetic cricket. Either way, the fans knew that none of the teams would be returning to the grounds for the final scheduled day.
Seales was as stodgy as a man beyond his years and Roach ran hard and played some smart Cricket.
Unbelievably, It came down to 6 runs required and still one wicket remaining.
At the start of over number 56, bowled by the excitable Hasan Ali, Roach refused a clear single from the first ball.
The second ball took the edge of his bat and flew agonizingly between the wicketkeeper and first slip, in the air and went away to the third man boundary for four.
If only West Indies could get one run, the fans would breathe easier, because even if the wicket fell, it would be another tied test match.
Two more balls—stoutly defended by Roach and the fans for both teams, waited with bated breaths.
Then came the final delivery of the over and Roach drove the ball handsomely through the off side and the batsmen set off for the required two runs.
The West Indies players and their supporters were ecstatic!
West Indies had won, by the narrowest of margins and now have an unassailable lead in the series-1-nil.
Jayden Seales was understandably announced as man of the match.
Summarized scores: West Indies 253 (Brathwaite 97, Holder 58, Afridi 4-59) and 168 for 9 (Blackwood 55, Roach 30*, Afridi 4-50) beat Pakistan 217 (Fawad 56, Holder 3-26, Seales 3-70) and 203 (Azam 55, Seales 5-55, Roach 3-30) by one wicket
The only question left to be answered is: Will they make any changes to the eleven, come Friday, when the second and final test match is due to commence, at the same venue?
With the two teams so obviously evenly matched, I would advise a fresh supply of pressure tablets.