New Zealand denies Pakistan’s resistance to seal first round with 4.3 overs remaining

12/30/2020 World


Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan denied New Zealand any terrain for the better part of two sessions before Pakistan imploded in the final session.

New Zealand v Pakistan
New Zealand against Pakistan. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Test cricket never fails to amaze. If you were at the Bay Oval for the last day of the first test between New Zealand and Pakistan, you will surely enjoy the experience for a long time. By the end of the second session, it looked like the match was headed for a tame draw. Pakistan was sailing at 215/4 and the tie seemed imminent.

But then, in a turn of fortune, Pakistan dramatically self-destroyed to allow New Zealand to draw first blood in the series. The visitors lost their last 6 wickets by adding only 31 runs, as the Kiwis beat their opposition by 101 runs.

New Zealand could choose only one solo wicket in the first two sessions

The first two sessions clearly belonged to the visitors. In both sessions together, Pakistan lost only one solitary spot, that of Azhar Ali. After the third ball of 40, Trent Boult made a delivery through Ali. The veteran hit him and passed the ball to BJ Watling behind the stumps.

That was the only source of joy for the Kiwis in the first two sessions as the visitors looked solid and thwarted New Zealand’s bowling attack. The day certainly belonged to Fawad alam. The unorthodox hitter, with a Chanderpaul stance, frustrated the Black Caps with his solidity. The southpaw scored a challenging 102, and it’s a century that he will be able to savor for the rest of his career.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan continued from where he left off in the first inning. The keeper scored 60 of 191 deliveries and participated in a pivotal 165-run partnership with Alam. However, Rizwan was caught dead in front of the stumps in the final session by Kyle Jamieson for 60. Neil Wagner He was rewarded for his perseverance on the short ball throughout the day as he induced a false blow from Alam.

When the southpaw left around 102, having made 269 deliveries, there was tension in the Pakistani countryside. Yasir Shah was the next man to leave, leaving Jamieson squarely in the hands of the first slip. Wagner then scalped first-inning hero Faheem Ashraf for 19, as Pakistan was in crisis.

The last two fields were only a matter of time. Mitchell Santner caught Mohammad Abbas plumb in front of the stumps. The left arm spinner then ended the procedure when he scalped Naseem Shah to give his team a last-minute victory with only 4.3 overs remaining for the day. Now both teams will head to Christchurch with the series on the line and everything to play for starting January 3, 2021.

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