It was a game of small margins which went all down the wire to the final session on Day 5 which eventually New Zealand bagged. To be exact, New Zealand sealed a victory with just 4.3 overs remaining in the Test match! That close this is. Very well done to Pakistan (playing for a Draw) who batted appreciably well in their second innings to take this game that close. As a matter of fact, all three results were possible at the start of the final session on Day 5.
Having opted to field first, Pakistan had let New Zealand score 431 runs in their first innings. Kiwis captain Kane Williamson (129) scored a century while Ross Taylor (70), Henry Nicholls (56) and BJ Watling (73) all scored half-centuries each and contributed for this total. In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for just 239 in their first innings conceding a 192-run lead to hosts.
New Zealand then scored a good rate in their second innings as they declared with 180/5 on the board setting a target of 372 for Pakistan. Kiwis openers Tom Latham (53) and Tom Blundell (64) both scored half-centuries in NZ’s second innings. New Zealand also declared their second innings with little over four sessions remaining in the play looking for a victory in this Test match! With just 372 runs needed, Pakistan too had the chance and time to go for a victory in this Test match!
However, Pakistan’s chase in the fourth innings took a hard hit when they lost both their openers for a Duck each. And losing two more wickets with just 75 runs on the board took home team a step closer to victory. But Fawad Alam and captain Mohammad Rizwan stepped up with a 165-run stand for the fifth wicket that lasted 388 deliveries. NZ struggled hard to break this stand but Kyle Jamieson trapped Rizwan in front to provide the much needed breakthrough for the hosts.
Centurion Rizwan too departed three overs later leaving only lower order between New Zealand and a victory! Kiwis were able to pick up next three wickets in no time but the last wicket stand between Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah kept Pakistan’s hopes of drawing the Test match alive. The duo blocked 47 deliveries and with just 4.3 overs remaining in the Test match, Naseem was dismissed by Mitchell Santner.
New Zealand held their nerve on final day to win the Test match by 101 runs and take lead 1-0 in this 2-match series. Much to their delight, New Zealand also became No. 1 Team in ICC Test Rankings for the first time! NZ captain Kane Williamson bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his contribution with the bat in this Test match. The second Test match is scheduled to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch beginning from Jan 03.
Brief Scores: New Zealand – 431 all out (Kane Williamson – 129, Shaheen Afridi – 4/109) & 180/5 decl (Tom Blundell – 64, Naseem Shah – 3/55) defeated Pakistan – 239 all out (Faheem Ashraf – 91, Kyle Jamieson – 3/35) & 271 all out (Fawad Alam – 102, Tim Southee – 2/33) by a margin of 101 runs
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