Media365
Justin Greaves etched his name into Test cricket history with a sensational spell against Pakistan, becoming the first bowler in recorded Test history to deliver five consecutive wicket-maidens during the opening Test in Tarouba, Trinidad. The West Indies all-rounder produced a devastating burst on Day 3 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, turning the match on its head after Pakistan appeared well placed in their first innings. Greaves finished with career-best figures of 5/27 from 11 overs, with all five wickets coming in five successive maiden overs without conceding a single run. It was also the 31-year-old’s maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Pakistan resumed the day trailing West Indies’ first-innings total of 311 and looked to be building a strong reply through Shan Masood and Salman Agha. The pair safely negotiated the opening hour before Shamar Joseph broke the stand by bowling Agha. What followed was one of the most remarkable spells in recent Test history. Greaves dismissed centurion Shan Masood for 109 when the Pakistan batter chopped the ball back onto his stumps. He then removed Aamer Jamal with a delivery that jagged back sharply before trapping Ali Usman leg-before for a duck in the very next over. Pakistan’s hopes rested on Mohammad Rizwan, but Greaves forced the wicketkeeper-batter into flashing at a wide delivery, resulting in an edge behind. In the first over after lunch, he completed his five-wicket haul when Mohammad Abbas poked outside off stump and was caught behind. The astonishing burst triggered a dramatic collapse, with Pakistan losing five wickets for just 15 runs before eventually being bowled out for 282, handing West Indies a first-innings lead of 29. Greaves’ feat surpassed the previous record of four consecutive wicket-maidens, achieved by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2016. The spell not only marked Greaves’ maiden Test five-for but also ensured his name entered the record books with an achievement never before seen in available Test records.
