Fill in the blank (sports context — cricket) “Pakistan lost a ______ wicket just when they seemed to be doing so well, and that led to their eventual defeat.” Choose the most appropriate adjective.

Given data

• Cricket sentence where losing a key wicket changes the match outcome.

Concept/ApproachIn sports reporting, “crucial/vital wicket” is the idiomatic phrase for a turning point.

Option analysiscrucial — correct; indicates importance.casual / random — imply chance or lack of importance.spare — does not collocate with “wicket.”

Final Answercrucial