Trinidad Triumph: Pakistan End Three-Year Away Test Drought With Commanding Win Over West Indies

In a dramatic turnaround at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Pakistan snapped an eight-match overseas losing streak by defeating the West Indies by eight wickets on Day 4 of the second Test. The victory not only leveled the two-match series 1-1, but also marked Pakistan’s first Test victory on foreign soil since July 2023.

Driven by a marathon 160-run century from opener Abdullah Shafique and a second-innings spin masterclass from Sajid Khan and Ali Usman, the Visitors completed a fourth-day chase of 75 runs. The result provides a massive boost to Pakistan's standing in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, elevating their points percentage (PCT) from 6.67 to 22.22.

PAKISTAN VS WEST INDIES 2ND TEST MATCH SCORECARD

Team	1st Innings Score	2nd Innings Score	Total
West Indies (Home)	344 all out (105 ov)	117 all out (46.1 ov)	461 runs
Pakistan (Away)	387 all out (115 ov)	77/2 (23.3 ov)	464/2 runs

Result	Pakistan won by 8 wickets (Series Drawn 1-1)
Player of the Match	Abdullah Shafique (160 runs & 24* in 2nd innings)

1. Abdullah Shafique’s Marathon Inning Lays the Foundation

The foundation of Pakistan's victory was laid during a grueling first innings that tested both patience and technique. Facing a formidable West Indies first-innings total of 344—built around half-centuries from Justin Greaves (73) and Roston Chase (70)—Pakistan required a disciplined response to remain competitive.

Opener Abdullah Shafique produced one of the finest overseas knocks by a Pakistani top-order batter in recent memory. Bating for over seven hours, Shafique scored a brilliant 160 off 323 deliveries, hitting 15 boundaries and 3 sixes. Supported by captain Babar Azam (88 off 147 balls) and young talent Azan Awais (55), Pakistan accumulated 387 to carve out a vital 43-run lead.

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS: 344 RUNS

ABDULLAH SHAFIQUE 160 & BABAR 88

┌───────────────PAKISTAN SECURES 43-RUN LEAD (387) ─────────────────┐  ▼                                                                                                                                                   ▼

SAJID KHAN: 4 FOR 32

ALI USMAN: 4 FOR 39

WEST INDIES COLLAPSE TO 117 ALL OUT

PAKISTAN CHASE DOWN 75 TARGET (77/2)

Shafique’s 160 was historically significant: he became only the fifth Pakistani batter in history to pass 150 in a Test match in the Caribbean, joining legendary names like Hanif Mohammad and Majid Khan.

2. Sajid Khan and Ali Usman Shred West Indies Batting Lineup

With a slim 43-run lead in hand, Pakistan’s spin attack exploited a deteriorating, gripping fourth-day pitch at Port of Spain. Off-spinner Sajid Khan and 33-year-old debutant left-arm spinner Ali Usman dismantled the West Indian middle and lower order.

Sajid Khan set the tone by tearing through the top order on Day 3, while Ali Usman applied relentless pressure from the opposite end. Returning on the fourth morning with West Indies reeling at 103/6, the pair needed less than 30 minutes to clean up the remaining four wickets.

SECOND INNINGS SPIN SURGE

Sajid Khan (4/32) + Ali Usman (4/39)

WI 117 All Out

Target: 75 Runs

• Sajid Khan’s Impact: Followed his 4/85 in the first innings with a lethal 4/32 in the second, ending with eight match wickets.

• Ali Usman’s Breakthrough: The debutant recorded figures of 4/39 in 19.1 overs, showing remarkable control on a turning surface.

• Host Collapse: West Indies lost their final 10 wickets for just 117 runs in 46.1 overs, leaving Pakistan with a target of 75 runs.

3. Controlled Chase Seals the Breakthrough Win

Chasing 75 for victory, Pakistan suffered early jitters when pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph dismissed openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais cheaply. However, first-innings centurion Abdullah Shafique (24*) joined captain Babar Azam (24*) to calm any dressing room anxiety.

Babar Azam punctuated the victory in style, hoisting consecutive sixes off spinner Jomel Warrican to seal the eight-wicket win shortly after the lunch break.

STATISTICAL BREAKTHROUGHS IN TRINIDAD

3-YEAR DROUGHT ENDED	WTC POINTS BOOST	CARIBBEAN RECORD
First away Test victory	PCT leaps from 6.67%	First victory in the
since Sri Lanka (July 2023)	to 22.22% on WTC Table	Caribbean since 2021

4. What This Victory Means for Pakistan Cricket

The victory in Trinidad represents more than just a drawn series; it serves as a critical morale booster for a squad that had faced mounting scrutiny over its red-ball performances away from home.

1. Ending the Away Hoodoo: Snapping an eight-match overseas losing streak gives the team foundational confidence ahead of upcoming away Test tours.

2. Spin Depth Emergence: The complementary bowling tandem of Sajid Khan and Ali Usman demonstrates that Pakistan possesses effective spin alternatives capable of winning matches abroad.

3. Top-Order Stabilization: Abdullah Shafique's temperament in long-form innings provides much-needed stability at the top of the order.

As Pakistan prepares for its next red-ball series, this victory in Port of Spain offers a clear template for success: resilient top-order batting paired with disciplined, aggressive spin bowling.