KARACHI: The dramatic first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand ended in a draw after captain Babar Azam called for a surprising declaration in the second innings and set the visitors to chase 138.
New Zealand set to chase 138 runs in 15 overs, could manage to amass 61/1 in response as the bad light halted the action and resulted in the match ending a draw.
Despite losing their opener Michael Bracewell in the first over, the touring side kept pushing for the victory as Tom Latham and Devon Conway scored at a rapid pace in pursuit.
Latham was unbeaten on 35, while Conway on 18 before the umpires called off the final day due to bad light.
Earlier in the final session, Pakistan captain Babar made a bold declaration briefly after Saud had strengthened the home side for a draw.
The home side, who was struggling at 206/7 before the Tea break made an astonishing recovery courtesy of a gritty 71-run stand between Saud and Mohammad Wasim Jr for the eighth wicket.
The pair frustrated the Kiwi bowlers and seemed to have settled down before Sodhi struck once again to break the vital partnership and brought New Zealand back into the game.
Sodhi trapped Wasim Jr in his legs and put an end to the latter’s brave knock. The all-rounder played an important knock of 43 runs.
Wasim’s dismissal, however, did not bother Saud much, who then stitched another fighting partnership for Pakistan as he added 34 runs for the 10th wicket with Mir Hamza.
The left-handed batter middle-order batter was unbeaten at 55 and seemed likely to carry his bat all the way through, what was anticipated to be a straightforward draw for Pakistan before Babar called their men back.
At the time of declaration, Pakistan were 311/8 and had piled up a 137-run lead over the touring side.
Sodhi led the bowling attack for New Zealand as he picked up six wickets for 86 runs, while Michael Bracewell could take two.
The second session of the final day of the ongoing first Test turned out to be an exciting one for the BlackCaps as they brightened the chances to clinch an astounding victory over hosts Pakistan.
The touring side leaked only 69 runs in the session and took three important wickets to push Pakistan on the back foot.
Sodhi was the man of the moment for New Zealand, who provided the breakthrough to his side as he got Sarfaraz Ahmed caught behind soon after his second consecutive half-century.
The wicketkeeper batter scored 53 off 76 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries.
Salman Ali Agha, who scored his maiden century in the first innings, could not stay for long at the crease as he was deceived by Sodhi’s brilliantly pitched googly that ended his knock for a mere six runs.
The leg-spinner then struck gold in his next over for New Zealand as he removed Pakistan’s top-scorer of the second innings Imam, who fell just four short of his century.
The opening batter scored 96 off 206 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries and a six.
Following the slump, middle-order batter Saud Shakeel alongside all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr initiated the fightback as the pair added an unbeaten 43-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Saud (23) and Wasim (20) will now resume Pakistan’s second innings at 249/7 in the final session with a 75-run lead over the visitors.
Pakistan resuming their second innings at 77/2 with opener Imam and nightwatchman Nauman Ali had a shaky start to the final day of the first Test as the touring side broke the overnight stand within the first three overs.
Michael Bracewell provided New Zealand with an early breakthrough as he trapped Nauman in his legs to end his brief four-run knock; causing Pakistan to slip to 82/3.
The home side then dealt with a major blow when they lost their in-form captain Babar Azam for a mere 14 runs courtesy of a deceiving googly from Ish Sodhi.
Following the slump, Sarfaraz joined Imam in the middle and began to script an astounding recovery for the hosts.
The duo appeared solid and accumulated 81 runs to cut New Zealand’s lead before eventually achieving seven-run superiority over the BlackCaps.
At the stroke of Lunch, Imam was unbeaten on 81 off 171 deliveries, while Sarfaraz was just one run short of amassing his second consecutive half-century.
