Tag: Sarfaraz Ahmed century against New Zealand

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed received a grand reception from his fans and friends as he reached his home after a match-saving century in the second Test against New Zealand.

Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan’s fightback to hold New Zealand for the draw after a thrilling last day of the second Test, got immense appreciation from his fans who flocked in large numbers to throw a grand welcome for the former captain upon his arrival.

As the right-arm pacer stepped out of his vehicle, fans showered flowers on him and put up garlands to appreciate his courageous knock against the Blackcaps in a crisp situation.

The right-handed batter came out to bat when Pakistan were struggling at 77/4 after skipper Babar Azam’s dismissal and soon slipped further to 80/5 in pursuit of the 319-run target.

Sarfaraz then stitched a fighting 123-run partnership with Saud Shakeel and brought Pakistan back in the hunt.

The former Pakistan captain kept fighting despite Saud’s dismissal and went on to smash his first Test century since his return and his fourth overall in the longest format.

It is pertinent to mention that before the New Zealand home series, Sarfaraz last played a Test match back in 2019 against South Africa. Whereas, his century against the Blackcaps in the fourth innings of the second Test was his first after 2014.

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed gets his dream fulfilled as he wrote his name on the honours board of the National Bank Cricket Arena following a fighting century against New Zealand in the second Test.

Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan’s fightback to hold New Zealand for the draw after a thrilling last day of the second Test, shared that it was his dream to write his name on the honours board of his hometown stadium.

His dream was fulfilled on Friday when he placed a cherry on top of his dream comeback with a crucial century in the fourth innings of the second Test.

The right-handed batter came out to bat when Pakistan were struggling at 77/4 after skipper Babar Azam’s dismissal and soon saw the home side losing another wicket in the form of Shan Masood as they slipped further to 80/5 in pursuit of the 319-run target.

Sarfaraz then stitched a fighting 123-run partnership with Saud Shakeel and brought Pakistan back in the hunt.

The former Pakistan captain kept fighting despite Saud’s dismissal and went on to smash his first Test century since his return and his fourth overall in the longest format.

Following his vital century, Sarfaraz managed to get his name on the honours board of the National Bank Cricket Arena.

🎥 🆕 entry on the honours board 👏#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/qHEtH3ajFo

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 6, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that before the New Zealand home series, Sarfaraz last played a Test match back in 2019 against South Africa. Whereas, his century against the Blackcaps in the fourth innings of the second Test was his first after 2014.

READ: Cricket fraternity heaps praise on Sarfaraz for sensational century

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed rated his fighting century in the second Test against New Zealand the best innings of his career thus far.

Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan fightback to hold New Zealand for the draw after a thrilling last day of the second Test, seemed pleased with his fighting century and termed it his best so far.

“First of all, I would like to thank Almighty Allah that by the will of Him, I was able to play such a brilliant knock. And, as long as the century is concerned, I think out of all the centuries I have scored, this was one of the best because it is not easy to bat in the fourth innings at any pitch,” shared Sarfaraz.

“Thus far, I have played so many crucial innings. I scored 96 in Galle and scored a century against Australia in 79 deliveries but as we all know the pressure of the fourth innings is very different and I had to take the match to the end so I think it was my best innings so far,” he added.

Sarfaraz also opened up regarding his emotional celebration after amassing his first century since his return – having already scored three consecutive half-centuries – by stating it was his dream to get his name on the honours’ board.

“There is no doubt that there were a lot of emotions behind my celebration because I got so close in the first three innings but it could not happen and I had a dream of doing it on my home ground,” Sarfaraz stated.

“As we all know that there are some new trends like when players score centuries they write their names on the honours’ board, so it was my dream too and thanks to Almighty Allah that my wish has been fulfilled,” he added.

In a question regarding Pakistan’s approach towards the second Test, Sarfaraz asserted that he had a clear mindset to go for the run chase and if two quicks wickets had not fallen then the result would have been very different.

“[Last session today] when 140 runs were left, the management said that you need to keep trying to score when the ball is there to hit. But then two wickets fell, and so we changed our style of play. If those two wickets didn’t fall then the result could’ve been something else,” shared Sarfaraz.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan forced a sensational draw after Sarfaraz scripted a sensational pullback of the sinking ship as he played a memorable knock of 176-ball 118 to steer Pakistan out of the crisis after they were reduced 80/5 in the first session on the final day while chasing a target of 319 runs.

READ: Pakistan hold New Zealand in tense draw after Sarfaraz’s heroics 

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed scripted a remarkable comeback as he smashed his first Test century since his return and fourth overall in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand.

Coming out to bat at number six when Pakistan were struggling at 77/4 and soon 80/5 when Shan Masood departed, launched a counterattack on the Kiwi bowlers by swiftly ticking the scoreboard.

The right-handed batter stitched a fighting 123-run partnership with Saud Shakeel and brought Pakistan back in the hunt.

Sarfaraz kept fighting despite Saud’s dismissal and went on to smash his first Test century since his return and his fourth overall in the longest format.

Notably, Sarfaraz had scored three consecutive half-centuries since his return.

Following his remarkable century, Sarfaraz has gone past Mohammad Rizwan in the list of highest batting averages by wicketkeeper batters for Pakistan in Tests.

Furthermore, Sarfaraz has also scored the most runs by a Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter in a Test series having three matches or less. He also became the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to amass four fifty-plus scores in a Test series.

At the time this story was filed Pakistan were 249/6 in 78 overs with Sarfaraz (109*) and Salman Ali Agha (16*) unbeaten at the crease. The hosts further needed 70 runs in 15 overs.

READ: Sarfaraz, Saud keep Pakistan afloat as second Test enters decisive phase