Pakistan need to chase 254 to beat the West Indies in the second Test at Multan to claim the home series 2-0.
Noman Ali (6-41 including a hat-trick) reduced the West Indies to 54-8 in the first innings of the Multan Test, before Gudakesh Motie (54) helped the visitors recover to 163. But the tourists hit back as well: Jomel Warrican claimed 4-43 to bowl out Pakistan for 154.
On the second day, Noman (4-80) improved on his own record for the oldest Pakistan bowler to take a ten-wicket haul in Test cricket, but yet again the West Indies recovered, this time from 145-6 to 244 despite Sajid Khan (4-76) providing support to Noman. Kraigg Brathwaite top-scored with 52.
Pakistan were, thus, left to chase 254 to win.
What's the highest successful Test run-chase in Pakistan?
The last time a higher successful run-chase took place in a Test match in Pakistan was 22 years back, in 2003. Only twice have teams successfully chased bigger targets in Pakistan – against Australia in 1994-95 (314) and against Bangladesh in 2003-04 (261).
Both turned out to be cliffhangers where Inzamam-ul-Haq saw them home: Mushtaq Ahmed was with him in the first instance and Yasir Ali in the second.
At the time of writing, Pakistan were 51-3 with Babar Azam (20) and Saud Shakeel (1) at the crease. They need another 203.
Successful Test match chases in excess of 200 in Pakistan
Target | Win margin | Team | Opposition | Venue | Season |
314 | 1 wicket | Pakistan | Australia | Karachi | 1994-95 |
261 | 1 wicket | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Multan | 2003-04 |
227 | 7 wickets | Pakistan | New Zealand | Hyderabad | 1984-85 |
220 | 2 wickets | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 1999-00 |
217 | 7 wickets | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Karachi | 2003 |
208 | 5 wickets | England | Pakistan | Lahore | 1961-62 |
202 | 8 wickets | Pakistan | New Zealand | Karachi | 1965 |
- The highest fourth-innings total by a side irrespective of outcome on Pakistan soil is the home side’s 443-7 against Australia at Karachi in 2021-22. They were chasing 506.
- The highest fourth-innings total in a defeat in Pakistan is 328 by the hosts against England at Multan in 2022-23. Their target was 355.
- In the only women’s Test in Pakistan, at Karachi in 2003-04, Pakistan made 58-2 in the fourth innings while chasing 162 against the West Indies.
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