With the primary three balls of the twelfth over on Day 1, Noman Ali created historical past for Pakistan cricket. He grew to become the primary ever Pakistani spin bowler to choose up a hat-trick within the longest format of the game, dismissing three West Indies batters on the trot from 38/4 to 38/7 and go away the guests reeling after they’d opted to bat first.
First it was Justin Greaves, who was caught by Babar Azam at second slip for 1. Then Tevin Imlach paid the value for an ill-judged sweep shot and was out first ball. Dealing with the hat-trick ball, Kevin Sinclair pushed at one which simply turned from offstump and it was as soon as once more Babar Azam at second slip, taking a pointy catch to spark vast celebrations.
Watch the video of the hat-trick right here:
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Hat-trick hero Noman Ali makes historical past in Multan 🙌#PAKvWI | #RedBallRumble pic.twitter.com/2xRLeYpVXl
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 25, 2025
Earlier than Noman, all Pakistan hat-tricks in males’s Check cricket have been taken by pacers. Wasim Akram was the primary Pakistan bowler to realize the feat, again within the 1988-99 season and he did so twice in opposition to Sri Lanka. The others are Abdul Razzaq (vs SL), Mohammad Sami (vs SL), Naseem Shah (vs BAN).
Earlier than the match, former pacer and present Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed defended the hosts’ determination to play turning tracks for the house assignments, saying that they might have been within the race for the World Check Championship closing had these choices been taken earlier.
“The rule of take a look at cricket is to win at dwelling. In the event you win at dwelling and also you win 2-3 checks away, you grow to be a robust candidate for the ultimate,” Aqib had mentioned within the pre-match press convention. We performed in South Africa and didn’t subject a spinner there as a result of circumstances. Equally, pitches in Australia and England favor tempo bowlers. Each nation prepares pitches based on their benefit to win matches. I don’t perceive the issue with spin-friendly wickets. If tempo bowlers take wickets, individuals say cricket is progressing, but when spinners take wickets, they are saying cricket goes backward. I don’t perceive this.”