Pakistan were 139 runs away from victory as play got under way in the fourth day of their first Test against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi. However, Imam-ul-Haq fell early in the morning session with the Pakistan opener being rapped on the pads by Ajaz Patel.
In the next over, Ish Sodhi got in on the act as he had Mohammad Hafeez caught by Colin de Grandhomme at cover. In the same over, Haris Sohail fell for just four runs after being caught by the bowler off his bowling. That dismissal reduced Pakistan to 48-3.
Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali then repaired the damage for Pakistan with a composed stand before the former fell for 45 to Neil Wagner. Babar Azam was then run-out before Sarfraz Ahmed fell to Patel. The danger bells started ringing for Pakistan as Bilal Asif and Yasir Shah fell cheaply too with the score at 155-8.
It all came down to Azhar and last man Mohammad Abbas in the end but the former fell to Patel with Pakistan agonisingly four runs short of the target.
On Sunday, Sarfraz Ahmed’s men had bowled out the Kiwis for 249 runs in their second innings with Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali both registering five-wicket hauls. Pakistan had earlier posted 227 runs in their first innings in reply to New Zealand’s total of 153.
By the time stumps were drawn on day three, Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez had added 37 runs without any loss in the second innings.
Will Pakistan coast to a comfortable win to take an 1-0 lead in the series or will Kane Williamson’s men change the script? Do not miss the action from Abu Dhabi by following our ball-by-ball coverage below.
