BRIDGETOWN, Barbados– A rampant West Indies flattened Pakistan for a record-equaling low at Kensington Oval, as they romped to an emphatic 106-run victory in the second Test here Thursday, to level the three-match series and set up a decider in Dominica next week.
Set 188 for victory on the final day of the pivotal contest, Pakistan folded meekly for a paltry 81, about 38 minutes before the scheduled tea interval, to slump to their fourth loss in seven games at the historic venue and maintain their unenviable record of having never won a Test at the ground.
The total equaled the previous lowest posted by India 20 years ago here and was also Pakistan’s second lowest-ever against West Indies, surpassing their record low of 77 in Lahore, 31 years ago.
For West Indies, the victory came just 11 days after they lost the opening Test in Jamaica by seven wickets and marked only their third Test win in 17 outings over the last two years.
“It was obviously a very good game for us. It was a collective team effort,” captain Jason Holder said afterwards.
“I always thought once we could give them in excess of 170, I felt we would be in with a very good chance on a day five pitch, the way it has deteriorated here.”
West Indies were fired by speedster Shannon Gabriel who turned in a Man-of-the-Match effort with five for 11 from 11 overs, to claim his second five-wicket haul in Tests and end with match figures of nine for 92.
Holder claimed three for 23 while 20-year-old pacer Alzarri Joseph supported with two for 42.
The decisive third Test begins next Wednesday at Windsor Park
Summarized scores: West Indies 312 (Chase 131, Holder 58, Abbas 4-56, Amir 3-65) and 268 (Hope 90, Brathwaite 43, Yasir 7-94) beat Pakistan 393 (Azhar 105, Misbah 99, Shehzad 70, Gabriel 4-81) and 81 (Sarfraz 23, Gabriel 5-11) by 106 runs