West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has called for a more complete performance from his team as they prepare for the second Test in Multan, following a comprehensive 127-run defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the series.

Having been bowled out for 137 in the first innings, the Windies were chasing a target of 250 in the fourth innings, but could only manage 123, collapsing to a defeat inside three days.

Alick Athanaze emerged as the top performer for the West Indies, battling his way to a determined 55 in the second innings. Despite his resistance, Pakistan’s spinners, led by Sajid Khan, proved too much to handle. Khan, who had earlier taken 4 for 65 in the first innings, returned to claim 5 for 50 in the second, ending with match figures of 9 for 115, and playing a pivotal role in the Windies’ downfall.

However, the standout bowler of the match was West Indies’ Jomel Warrican. The left-arm spinner delivered an extraordinary performance, taking 7 for 32 in Pakistan’s second innings to finish with match figures of 10 for 101.

Warrican’s performance is now the third-best ever by a visiting bowler in Pakistan, after his earlier 3 for 69. His efforts were one of the few bright spots for the West Indies in an otherwise disappointing match.

In the aftermath of the loss, Brathwaite acknowledged that his team’s performance was below par, particularly with the bat. Reflecting on the defeat, he said, “I do think we could improve bowling-wise. We gave them 50-60 runs too much in the first innings because the pitch spun from ball one, and we could have created more pressure on the batters to get more wickets. Saying that, we also didn’t bat as well as we could. Alick [Athanaze] showed us how to approach batting in these conditions with his 55 in the second innings. You’ve got to be braver in your shot selection. But I believe with a better all-round performance, we can win the second Test.”

Brathwaite also acknowledged the challenging conditions created by the dry, spinning pitch prepared by Pakistan. “It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure,” he said. “But it’s their decision how they want the pitch, and we’ve got to adapt. We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test, and we have to come better.”

The final scores in the match are as follows:

• Pakistan: 230 and 157
• West Indies: 137 and 123

With the series now in the balance, the West Indies will look to bounce back in the second Test, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, also in Multan. Brathwaite’s call for a more resilient and adaptable approach from his team will be crucial if they are to level the series and avoid going 0-2 down.