[12] The Test series began with a single-wicket victory by the hosts at Sabina Park, reminiscent of previous tight finishes between the two sides, such as in Antigua in 2000 and in Dominica in 2017.

[25] An initially sunny first morning saw Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales dismiss the two Pakistani openers cheaply, but rain brought a halt to proceedings and an early lunch with the visitors on 34/2.

West Indies' pace bowlers continued putting the Pakistan batsmen through difficult times after play resumed; removing Azhar Ali and Babar Azam within the space of five deliveries in the middle of an extended afternoon session.

The hosts went in to bat shortly after half past six, but Mohammad Abbas struck in the third over to remove Kieran Powell and Nkrumah Bonner, both for ducks, with successive deliveries.

[27] An overcast second day began with Abbas again questioning the batters with challenging line and length, but once nerves settled down, West Indies navigated to lunch with the loss of only one additional wicket, 81/3, with Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 35.

Pakistan sought to exploit this opening, but wayward bowling with the new ball let the lower order squeeze out further runs, and a narrow lead, well before the umpires started worrying about light, with West Indies standing on 251/8 at stumps.

The period after the resumption saw the home side's best moments of the day, as Seales removed Abid and Alam in quick succession, with Pakistan in a precarious position, four wickets down with a lead of only 29.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam gradually added runs to this total, under darkening skies, which again forced an early interruption for tea, the visitors now at 117/4.

After the delay, Rizwan's wicket quickly fell to Holder's bowling, but Azam saw out the day's play, reaching a half century in the company of Faheem Ashraf, the scoreboard reading 160/5.

Faheem Ashraf then put further pressure on the batsmen, getting an edge from Chase and then from Kyle Mayers in his next over, but the more important moments for the visitors came late in the session, with the wickets of Blackwood and Holder reducing the hosts to 114/7, the remaining 54 runs looking like a tall order for the tail.

Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf saw off the reminder of the day, under less oppressive weather, with the visitors reaching the close on 212/4, only 74 overs having been bowled before bad light prevented further play.

A poor shot by Brathwaite then allowed Pakistan to take aim at the lower order, although Mayers put on a stout display, falling to Afridi just before rain brought an early tea, the scoreboard now reading 159/7, the visitors just three wickets from leveling the series.

The weather only briefly delayed the match, although West Indies continued resisting, this time with the help of Holder, dismissed by Nauman Ali three runs from a half-century.