Pak vs NZ 1st Test: Kiwis nearly pull off win at Karachi as bad light spoil play
With one hour to go in the first test in Karachi, Pakistan declared their innings at 311/8 leaving New Zealand 138 to win from 15 overs. This decision by Babar Azam surprised everyone.
It created an excitement in the penultimate hour of the match as this gave New Zealand a slight chance to pull off a miracle even though a draw was mainly on the cards.
Bad Light spoils play for New Zealand
Michael Bracewell was sent in to open with Devon Conway by the Kiwis. However, after Bracewell fell for 3, it was Devon Conway and Tom Latham who went for the kill. The duo played some attacking strokes and struck a 52-run stand in just 6.3 overs.
Babar Azam and the rest of the Pakistani players were a bit concerned as they feared their fifth consecutive defeats in tests. The kiwis needed 77 in 7.3 overs which was achievable in todays era.
However, it is then when the light was declared bad for playing and the match ended in a draw despite Latham and Conway giving their everything to pull of an impossible. Latham remained unbeaten on 35 from 24 balls and Conway remained not out on 18 from 16 balls.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan was in a spot of bother and was close to losing the test as Ish Sodhi’s maiden five-wicket haul kept the hosts on check.
Shakeel and Wasim bat Pakistan out of danger
With nearly 50 overs remaining in the match, Pakistan was reeling at 206 for 7, with just a lead of 32 runs. But a 71-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim helped them escape trouble.
The more they spent time, the more they got used to the wicket and slowly dragged Pakistan out of danger. Wasim batted well for his 43 runs before being picked by Sodhi.
Shakeel brought up his fifty as he remained unbeaten on 55 who was supported well by Mir Hamza as he hung around tight for his 3 runs from 34 balls. These lower order contributions from Pakistan helped them negotiate the danger and stretched the lead past 100 runs.
Ish Sodhi was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with career best figures of 6/86. He picked wickets at regular intervals which denied Pakistan to dictate terms. The hosts were at 100/4 at one stage after losing captain Babar Azam.
Imam and Sarfaraz to the rescue
It was Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed who stitched a 86 run partnership and brought Pakistan out from a nervy period. Imam missed his well-deserved century by just four runs as he was picked by Sodhi for 96 runs.
His innings included ten fours and a six and came from just 210 balls. Sarfaraz scored his second half century of the match before being dismissed for 53 runs.
Kane Williamson was awarded the man of the match for his magnificent knock of 200*. The next test is scheduled to commence from 2nd January onwards at the National Stadium in Karachi. Both teams will expect to have a livelier wicket which would make the match interesting.
