Greaves Makes Test History with Unprecedented Five Wicket-Maidens

West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves set a record in the first Test match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba by taking wickets in five consecutive maiden overs against Pakistan.

The 32-year-old right-arm seamer bowled a career-best 5/27 in 11 overs, claiming five wickets in five straight overs without conceding a single run. Furthermore, it was Greaves’ maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and it completely shifted the tide of the contest in favour of the West Indies.

Greaves surpassed the previous record held by former England pacer Stuart Broad, who bowled four wicket-maidens in a row against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2016.

Pakistan appeared to be in complete control of their first innings after reaching 244/3, with to captain Shan Masood’s superb century.

However, with a remarkable outburst, Justin Greaves drastically altered the direction of the game. After removing the experienced Masood, he swept through Pakistan’s middle and lower order.

During his remarkable session, Pakistan collapsed from a commanding position and were bowled out for 282, including Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, and Mohammad Rizwan.

The West Indies secured a slender 29-run lead in the first innings as the visitors crumbled, handing the hosts a dominating lead in the World Test Championship.

“The ball nipped around, and I got some reward,” Justin Greaves said.

Justin Greaves lauded West Indies captain Roston Chase for providing precise instructions before the raid.

“When I came on, skipper Roston Chase simply told, ‘Continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and that I should try to grab some wickets for the team.

The ball nipped about, and I received a prize. When I get the ball, the team looks on me to be the steady guy they can rely on to get us out of sticky situations.

I’m overjoyed to have taken five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, but there’s still a lot of work to be done in the game,” he told Hindustan Times.

The all-rounder’s stunning spell has already become one of the series’ defining moments, and the match remains very much in the balance heading into the fourth day.