NEW DELHI: Kavem Hodge scored an unbeaten 83 to guide the West Indies to 194/3 at stumps on a rain-affected opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Saturday.Only 67 overs were possible on Day 1 as rain and bad light curtailed play. Hodge remained at the crease throughout the day and was joined by Shai Hope, who remained unbeaten on 39. The pair put together an unbroken 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put the West Indies in a strong position.
Pakistan strike soon
Pakistan made an early breakthrough when fast bowler Mohammad Abbas dismissed Brandon King for 12 in the ninth over. West Indies were struggling at 13/1 as runs came slowly in the opening session.
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After lunch the home team recovered with Hodge leading the charge despite the pitch becoming more challenging after the rain.Tagenarine Chanderpaul he scored 21 before falling to Aamer Jamal, who returned to Pakistan’s Test side after an 18-month break. Amir Jangoo also made 21 before Abbas trapped lbw.
Hodge survives the magazine, reaches fifty
Hodge remained calm throughout his innings and completed his fourth Test half-century off 86 balls with eight fours.He also survived a big scare when Abbas hit him on the pads. The field umpire gave him lbw, but Pakistan’s decision was overturned after replays showed the ball bounced over the stumps.Hope gave him solid support, facing 91 deliveries before stumps.
Abbas impresses with the ball
Abbas was Pakistan’s best bowler, finishing the day with figures of 2/44 from 19 overs.Left-arm spinner Usman Ali made his Test debut at the age of 33 and showed promising signs to take a sudden turn from the surface.
Chase chooses to bat first
West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and decided to bat. The decision looked risky early on as Pakistan’s bowlers kept the score under control during the first session.The hosts, however, recovered well in the second and third sessions thanks to Hodge’s patient innings.
The team changes for both sides
Pakistan are playing under the leadership of Babar Azam, who returned as captain after Shan Masood was removed from the role after 12 defeats in 16 Tests. Pakistan are also looking for their first away Test win since beating Sri Lanka in 2023.The visitors were without opener Abdullah Fazal, who has been ruled out of this series and the upcoming tour of England with a back injury. Imam-ul-Haq returned to partner Azan Awais at the top of the order.West Indies played three fast bowlers – Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales – after Alzarri Joseph made himself unavailable for the series. Jomel Warrican is the team’s specialist spinner.Both teams enter the series at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings with one win each.
Tribute to Garfield Sobers
Before the start of the game, players of both teams and match officials observed a minute’s silence in memory of West Indian legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who died earlier this month at the age of 89.West Indies players and party officials also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.