Pakistan spinner goes into the record books with hat-trick against West Indies

The left-arm spinner continued his exceptional form on the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan, tearing through the West Indies batting lineup to claim the first-ever Test hat-trick by a Pakistan spinner.

In the 11th over of the innings, Ali enticed Justin Greaves to lunge forward, but the turn and bounce deceived him, inducing a thick edge that was safely grasped by Babar Azam at gully.

Noman then trapped new batter Tevin Imlach in front of his pads as the wicketkeeper batter tried to pull a meditated sweep but instead got beaten on length and was adjudged LBW. Next up, the 38-year-old beat Kevin Sinclair with the turn, catching a thick outside edge that flew straight in the palms of Babar Azam at gully as Ali rounded up his hat-trick.

Ali is now the first-ever Pakistan spinner to attain a Test hat-trick. The last Pakistan player to do so was Naseem Shah against Bangladesh in 2020.

The left-arm orthodox spinner went on to claim a second five-for in the ongoing series against the West Indies, extending his lead as the leading wicket-taker in the series.