Pakistan Beat West Indies to Draw Test Series and End Three-Year Away Losing Run

Pakistan ended a disappointing run of away defeats in Test cricket with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies on Wednesday, drawing the two-match series 1-1 after a dominant performance at Queen’s Park Oval.

Chasing a modest target of 75, Pakistan reached 77-2 shortly after lunch on the fourth day, with Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guiding the visitors to victory. Both batsmen remained unbeaten on 24 as Pakistan completed their first Test win away from home since defeating Sri Lanka in 2023.

Babar sealed the result in style by striking two consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, bringing an end to Pakistan’s eight-match losing streak in overseas Test matches.

The victory came after Pakistan’s bowlers dismissed the West Indies for 117 in their second innings. Off-spinner Sajid Khan claimed 4-32, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman took 4-39 as the pair shared eight wickets to exploit a deteriorating pitch that increasingly favoured spin.

Pakistan had earned a first-innings lead of 43 runs, thanks largely to Abdullah Shafique’s century earlier in the match, leaving the home side with little room for error in its second innings.

West Indies resumed the fourth day on 106-3, holding a lead of only 60 runs, but their lower order offered little resistance. Ali Usman removed Kemar Roach and Shamar Joseph early in the session before Mohammad Ali dismissed Justin Greaves, the final recognised batter, whose attempted cross-batted shot deflected onto his stumps.

The West Indies were also weakened by the absence of opening batter Brandon King, who was unable to bat in the second innings after suffering a back injury on the third day. King had earlier produced one of the highlights of the match by running out Babar Azam with a direct hit from short cover.

Pakistan’s chase was briefly interrupted when Jayden Seales dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for nine with the first over of the innings after Justin Greaves completed an outstanding catch in the slips. Shamar Joseph then bowled Azan Awais for 18, reducing Pakistan to 29-2.

Any hopes of a West Indies comeback quickly faded as Shafique and Babar combined in an unbroken partnership to comfortably guide their team to the target without further loss.

The series had begun on a disappointing note for Pakistan after the West Indies secured a 90-run victory in the opening Test at Tarouba. That defeat extended Pakistan’s poor record away from home, where the team had suffered series defeats in Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh during the past three years.

The latest success also marked a positive start to Babar Azam’s second spell as Test captain. After replacing Shan Masood following Pakistan’s prolonged struggles in red-ball cricket, Babar endured defeat in his first match back as captain but responded by leading the team to a series-levelling victory.

Pakistan’s win also preserved its unbeaten record in Test series against the West Indies, a run that stretches back to 2000, while providing renewed confidence ahead of future overseas assignments.