History: Justin Greaves destroys Pakistan with 5 consecutive wicket maidens

Justin Greaves produced one of the greatest spells of bowling in the history of Test cricket on Day 3 of the opening Test against Pakistan in Tarouba, Trinidad, becoming the first bowler ever to take wickets in five consecutive premierships. The West Indian all-rounder’s extraordinary burst turned the match on its head, triggering Pakistan’s dramatic collapse and writing its name into the record books.

Pakistan continued to command a commanding position on Day 3 before Greaves changed the face of the match with relentless precision and movement. Bowling unchanged, the right-arm spinner removed the batter in each of his next five maiden overs, a feat never seen in the 148-year history of Test cricket. He finished with career-best figures of 11-6-27-5 and helped dismiss Pakistan for 282 after the visitors looked well placed to build a sizeable first-innings lead.

The spell eclipsed the decade-old record held by former England pacer Stuart Broad, who took wickets in four consecutive Tests against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2016. Greaves’ precision dismantled Pakistan’s lower middle order and tail to give West Indies a slim 29-run first innings lead after he bowled 31.

Justin Greaves claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Figures: 11 overs, 5/27

– Pakistan: 267/9 (72 overs), trailing by 44 runs. pic.twitter.com/eiZDyVLSiz— Talha Nawaz (@TalhaDigital007) July 27, 2026

PAKISTAN STILL HOLD YOUR HAND

While Greaves’ remarkable effort will be remembered for years, the match remains tilted in Pakistan’s favour. West Indies endured another batting collapse in their second innings, slumping to 126 for 7 at stumps on Day 3 to increase their overall lead to 155 runs.

Just three wickets to go and the hosts are likely to set Pakistan a target in the region of 170-190 if they add some valuable runs on the fourth morning. On a pitch that consistently favors both seamers and spinners, the chase will not be straightforward, but Pakistan will be encouraged by the way they restricted the West Indies batting line-up in both innings. The visitors have enough batting depth to believe they can complete the chase and grab a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO BREAK

Greaves’ latest heroics are the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable rise in Test cricket. The Barbadian all-rounder made his debut on the global stage in December 2025, saving West Indies with an unbeaten 202 off 388 balls against New Zealand in Christchurch. The marathon knock was his first Test double century and made him only the seventh batsman in Test history to score a double century in the fourth innings of a match.

He carried that form into the home series against Sri Lanka in July 2026, scoring a brilliant 180 and sharing a 242-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shai Hope. Having already proven his credentials as a reliable middle-order batsman, Greaves now showcased his ability to win matches with the ball. His historic spell against Pakistan has now cemented his growing reputation as one of the most complete all-rounders in the modern West Indies side.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

Jul 28, 2026 12:51 PM IST