Seales bags career-best figures but WI stumble

West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales bagged a career best three for 70 to help restrict Pakistan to 217 on the rain-affected opening day of the first Test at Sabina Park.

Seales and the rest of the West Indies fast bowling unit put in workmanlike performance to restrict the visitors on a rain-affected day, however, the top order batsmen weren't so lucky, as the regional side closed the day two wickets down for just two runs, thanks to a late evening burst from Pakistani pacer Mohammad Abbas.

Opener Kieron Powell and Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner were back in the pavilion without a run to their names, as captain Kriagg Brathwaite and Roston Chase will resume today's second day on one and nought, respectively.

Earlier, Seales, Jason Holder and Kemar Roach utilised the conditions excellently, to restrict the normally free-scoring Pakistan batters who clawed their way over the 200 mark.

Valuable 56

Seales and Roach accounted for the first four Pakistani batters with just 68 runs on the board. Holder then came to the party by picking up the wicket of the innings top-scorer Fawad Alam who made a valuable 56 from 177 balls which included six fours.

Alam and Faheem Ashraf put on a crucial 85 runs for the sixth wicket, with Ashraf contributing 44 from 66 balls with eight fours. Captain Babar Azam chipped in with 30, while wicket-keeper Mohammad Razwan made 23.

Holder ended with three for 26, while Seales finished with three for 70 and Roach two for 47 with Kyle Mayers taking one for 28.

For young fast bowler Seales, playing in just his third Test match, the outing was pleasing.

"I was pleased with my performance. I wanted to just come out and execute the plans that we spoke about in training. I went for 70 runs and I probably could have been a bit more economical but I am still pleased with the results," said Seales.

Fellow pacer Jason Holder was also pleased with his efforts with the ball on a tricky Sabina Park surface.

"The wicket was slower than I expected and we had to be a little fuller and made them play as much as possible. We would have taken this first innings total as it was a disciplined bowling effort by everyone. We just need to apply ourselves with the bat and give ourselves a good chance to get a really big score," said Holder.